Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to discuss various issues and demanded the Central government's support in developing former's state.
Akhilesh met Manmohan Singh at the Prime Minister's residence at 7 Race Course Road on Saturday for the first time after assuming the Chief Minister's role in Uttar Pradesh last March.
The Prime Minister's Office tweeted: "PM Manmohan Singh assured "all central help that is due to UP for its development" when CM Akhilesh Yadav raised the issue of Centre's aid.
Further, it added that Akhilesh stated that his government would speed up all ongoing welfare schemes in education, infrastructure and employment in UP.
Besides seeking an uninterrupted flow of Central funds in carrying out government aided developmental projects in Uttar Pradesh, Akhilesh also sought for help in cleaning the Ganga, in view of upcoming Kumbh Mela festival, which will be held in Allahabad.
Akhilesh met the reporters outside the Prime Minister's Office after a meeting with Manmohan Singh that lasted for about an hour. He said that the discussion with the Prime Minister was only focused on polices, infrastructure and all other related matter to the development of Uttar Pradesh.
"We have not demanded any package for the state. It was a good meeting with the Prime Minister. A host of issues related to Uttar Pradesh including MNREGA, roads, problems related to coal shortage, the Kumbh Mela to be held soon and the Ganga cleaning project were discussed," Yadav told reporters after the meeting.
Akhilesh told reporters that he informed the Prime Minister about a few schemes that was introduced by his government to lead the state towards development in all aspects.
Akhilesh created a record by becoming the youngest chief minister of Uttar Pradesh at the age of 38. In last assembly election Akhilesh led Samajwadi Party (SP) emerged as the single largest party with overwhelming majority.
Akhilesh said that he would be meeting the Prime Minister in the next meeting convened by the Center on the controversial National Counter Terrorism Center (NCTC).
A special meeting by the UPA government on NCTC will be held April 16 in which all the chief ministers across the nation have been invited, in a deal to break the impasse over bringing up proposed anti-terror body into action.
Akhilesh refrained from making comments on the CBI inquiry that is on into the alleged irregularities during the rule of former government headed by BSP chief Mayawati.
