Crime and graft,not temple,poll plank in UP: Uma

Alleging that Uttar Pradesh topped in corruption,Uma said the BJP would fight the Mayawati government on these issues.

“BJP will inquire about the funds UP received in the last four years for development and submission of utilisation certificates. We will also check if funds of Centre-sponsored schemes were diverted to other projects,” Uma said.

Uma said women were feeling unsafe in UP because of the rising crime rate. “It is not necessary that only a woman chief minister can ensure the safety of women. Mayawati has lost control over law and order and has failed to strike terror in the minds of criminals. She is solely responsible for the recent incidents of crime against women,” Uma said.

Uma will start her campaign in Lucknow from June 28 when the BJP’s Mahila Morcha takes out a march to protest crime against women. Senior party leaders,including Uma herself,will participate in the march.

She announced that her Bharatiya Janashakti will merge with the BJP in New Delhi on June 29. Uma had formed the party after quitting the BJP in 2005.

When pointed out that the Congress too had questioned the UP government’s use of central funds,particularly under the National Rural Health Mission,Uma said: “The Congress itself is involved in corruption.”

On Anna Hazare and Baba Ramdev’s campaigns against corruption,she said,“I am no less than Anna Hazare. I support the leadership of both Anna and Baba in the campaign against corruption but they do not have a copyright on this issue.”

She condemned the Prime Minister for justifying the police action on Baba Ramdev’s supporters in New Delhi on June 4.

Uma dismissed AICC general secretary Digvijaya Singh,who is in charge of UP,as a ‘stepney’ of Rahul Gandhi and said the Congress had left him free to make statements only.