Chidambaram assures all help to UP

In the midst of talk over Samajwadi Party withdrawing support to UPA government, Finance Minister P Chidambaram on Friday appeared to woo the party, saying the Centre will stand by Uttar Pradesh in its development. "I want to take this opportunity to assure the Chief Minister and his team, as well as the president of their party that Government of India is committed to stand by Uttar Pradesh in its development," he said while inaugurating 300 new bank branches in the state. Noting that 24 central projects were being implemented in the state worth Rs 18,500 crore, Mr. Chidambaram said, "In every way we are committed to helping UP and every other state. He is a young chief minister (Akhilesh Yadav) and I am sure that they will do their best to bring the state up in every single way." The Finance Minister's statement assumes significance in the context of repeated attacks by SP leader Mulayam Singh Yadav against the Congress and UPA government triggering speculation whether it would withdraw support. The Samajwadi Party has been attacking Congress and the government in the last few days. Samjawadi Party with 22 MPs and BSP with 21 are providing crucial outside support to the government and bailing it out in times of crisis. Mr. Chidambaram also noted that Uttar Pradesh has large financial needs. "This morning the CM and officials sat with me and went over a number of proposals. I promised them that when I get back to Delhi, I would look into each of the proposals. "In about one or two weeks, we will be able to get an idea where the proposal stand after that I will invite the CM to come and meet us in Delhi," he said. The Minister said Uttar Pradesh's annual plan was rising every year. "It was Rs 42,000 crore in 2010�11 and Rs 57800 crore in 2012�13. UP is a big state and the more we will be able to spend from planned expenditure, it is good for the state," he said. Mr. Chidambaram said the Centre devolved taxes to the state and it was shared. "In 2009-10 the total amount devolved was Rs 77,137 crore and in 2011-12 it was 96,224 crore. I am sure that as India grows and as we have more tax revenues, more funds will be devolved to the states and UP will get its fair and rightful share," he said. He said that 24 central sector projects were being implemented in the state worth Rs 18,500 crore. "In every way we are committed to helping UP and every other state. He is the young chief minister and I am sure that they will do their best to bring UP up in every single way," he said. Speaking on the occasion state chief minister Akhilesh Yadav said that UP would be benefitted in a big manner with opening of new branches. "We have launched a number of schemes which directly benefit the poor people and for that bank branches would be needed. I hope that we will continue to get cooperation of the centre and the state would extend all possible cooperation," he said.