Mayawati counters Rahul's charge with white paper

With a view to counter "opposition propaganda" against it, the Uttar Pradesh government on Friday released a white paper on functioning of 24 key departments, claiming accountability and transparency in their functioning.

"After the approval of the cabinet, the government is releasing a white paper mentioning transparent, accountable and clean government functioning of 24 departments," Cabinet Secretary Shashankh Shekhar Singh told reporters.

"The opposition parties should read the white paper before initiating false propaganda against the state government. They will not be able to get any chance to raise a finger against the government," he said quoting Chief Minister Mayawati.

The 84-page white paper has been released against the backdrop of allegations of corruption against the Mayawati government by opposition parties, including Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, in his election meetings in the state.

Alleging that she inherited corruption from previous governments, Mayawati said that all attempts were made to check the practice.

Claiming that left with no concrete agenda against the state government, opposition parties were dragging the names of her family members and making false charges against them, Mayawati said that transparent policies were adopted in whatever was done in her regime.

"The opposition is unnecessarily dragging the names of my family members in Noida land allotment scam. A process of competitive bidding was adoped in land allotment in Noida," she said.

"I have said it earlier that I keep my family members away from politics and government work. The procedure of government has not been compromised for anyone", she said.

About the need for releasing a white paper, Singh said it was brought to clear doubts and counter canards of the opposition parties against the state government.

The white paper covers the state's land acquisition policy, rise of revenue up to 20 per cent in the excise department, need to sell sugar mills, which were in loss besides highlighting achievements of the energy department.

Justifying the expenditure on parks and memorials, Singh said it was less than one per cent of the state's budget and it was done as per constitutional provisions.

He said UP was probably the only state where there is no problem in the land acquisition due to its policy through which farmers consent was taken before acquisition.

"The cane price is also announced keeping in view the interests of farmers," he said, claiming that power production in the state has risen by 3,000 MW after which it reached about 7,000 MW.

He said in departments where discrepancies and corruption was found, strict action was initiated by the government.