U.P. C.M. expresses gratitude to people for BSP victory in Hardoi By-election Lucknow:

November 18, 2008

The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Ms. Mayawati has expressed gratitude to the people on victory of BSP candidate Mr. Nitin Agrawal with great margin in the Sursa assembly by-election in Hardoi. She termed it as the victory of BSP Government ’ s policies and programmes adding that the results of the by-election had once again proved that BSP Government had measured up to the expectations and aspirations of the people. The Chief Minister maintained that it was the triumph of ‘ Sarvjan Hitai, Sarvjan Sukhai ’ principle, as the BSP Government was committed to the development of all sections of the society. Her commitment to the well-being of all sections would continue to be translated into action. Ms. Mayawati said that the results of the last by-elections, including Hardoi, had exposed the hollowness of the opposition parties. The people of Hardoi had rejected almost all the parties, that criticised the BSP Government continuously, she added.
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1 Press Information Bureau (C.M. Information Campus) Information & Public Relations Department,

U.P. C.M. reviews progress of NHAI and Lucknow Bypass projects Directive to speedily complete all road projects
Lucknow: November 18, 2008

The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Ms. Mayawati reviewed the progress of repair and improvement works of national highways and other projects of National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) at a high-level meeting at her official residence here today. She directed that effective action should be taken on projects run by NHAI, and the work on all other roads of the State be completed at the earliest. It may be recalled, that Chief Minister Ms. Mayawati had written a letter to Prime Minister in October last regarding allocation of funds for repair and improvement work on National Highways, tardy progress of works for converting four-lanes into six-lanes on different national highways by the NHAI and the poor conditions and proper maintenance of National Roads handed over to Authority. After the review meeting by the Chief Minister, the senior government officers discussed in detail the different projects of the Authority with Mr. Vireshwar Singh, Chairman NHAI and his other colleagues. At the meeting, his attention was drawn to the slow pace of progress of the projects of National Highway Authority of India— Lucknow-Sitapur Highway, Lucknow-Kanpur Highway, Lucknow-Jhansi Highway, Basti-Gorakhpur-Kushinagar Highway and Lucknow Bypass. Mr. Vireshwar Singh assured that work on these projects would be completed soon. It was informed at the meeting that work on Lucknow Bypass in progress for the last seven years and it was still incomplete. Work on it was stopped two years ago. The Cabinet Secretary said that if Authority
PN-18Nov-08 (Prabhat)(RKS)-CM-Hardoi

UP to lure Arab world to ‘greener pastures’

After promoting the Buddhist circuit to woo international tourists,
the Uttar Pradesh government has now picked up a novel theme — 
‘Chasing the Monsoons’ — to invite tourists from the Arab countries. 

This is part of the Indian Tourism Ministry’s ‘Incredible India’
campaign that was launched as Integrated International Media Campaign
in Arabian Travel Market Convention concluded in Dubai on May 7. The
media campaign was launched to promote India as a must-see tourist
destination and focuses on both generic and niche areas to convert the
country into a destination all year long.

In this campaign, Uttar Pradesh has invited tourists from Arab
countries to UP to enjoy lush green environment and its unique circuits
during the monsoon season. 

Principal secretary (Tourism) Om Prakash, after returning from
Arabian Travel Market Convention in Dubai said, “We have been taking
various initiatives in the tourism sector with the sole objective of
attracting more tourists. Infrastructural facilities in the country are
being augmented in a well-planned manner. With an open-sky policy
providing better air connectivity, the aviation system has been
radically liberalised,” he said.

In order to overcome the shortage in accommodation, efforts are on
to build more hotel rooms in the next four years under the new state
hotel policy, he added. The new ‘Bed and Breakfast’ scheme has been
launched to cater to the requirements of more tourists.

Besides infrastructure, the major destination for all tourists is
Taj Mahal. In the Buddhist circuit, we plan to develop, Shrawasti,
Kapilvastu

and Kushinagar.

There are also plans to develop Barsana,
Vrindavan and Govardhan. The Department has also firmed up plans to
develop the Mahabharata circuit around Hastinapur and all known places
like Baghpat and Bijnore.

Keeping in mind Muslim tourists, importance has been given to the
Sufi Circuit. The circuit includes Fatehpur Sikri, Rampur, Badaun,
Bareilly, Lucknow, Kakori, Deva Sharif (Barabanki), Bahraich, Kichocha
Sharif, Kade Shah - Kada (Kaushambi), Allahabad, Kantit Sharif
(Mirzapur). All these places have shrines (mazars) or birthplaces of
famous Sufi saints. These places are being developed by the department,
added the principal secretary. 

He said people from the Arab countries like fresh and lush green places as they come from places with dry weather.

Atiq Khan

LUCKNOW: The former External Affairs Minister, K. Natwar Singh, and
his son Jagat Singh have been expelled from the Bahujan Samaj Party on
the charge of indiscipline. Mr. Natwar Singh has been charged with
working against the principles and policies of the BSP. He joined the
BSP at a rally in Lucknow on August 9 this year.

After having been expelled earlier from the Congress, he campaigned
for the Samajwadi Party-led United National Progressive Alliance in
Uttar Pradesh for the 2007 Assembly elections.

In a press release on Tuesday, BSP national general secretary Satish
Chandra Mishra charged Mr. Natwar Singh with indiscipline following the
leadership’s refusal to nominate him for the Rajya Sabha.

Mr. Mishra said that he had been clearly told that it was not
possible to nominate him as preference was given to those who had a
long association with the BSP movement. The former Minister was told
that ticket would not be given to an industrialist nor would an
opportunist be sent to the House.

As for Mr. Jagat Singh, Mr. Mishra said he had been given ticket to
contest the Lok Sabha election from Jaipur. When he realised that the
BSP would play an important role in the formation of the next
government in Rajasthan, he clamoured for contesting the Vidhan Sabha
poll from Bharatpur. However, Mr. Jagat Singh was refused nomination as
a Brahmin candidate was already named for the seat.

Mr. Mishra clarified that no party post had been given to Mr. Natwar
Singh and his son, who were in the BSP as ordinary workers. Mr. Jagat
Singh was earlier expelled from the Rajasthan BSP unit.