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Varanasi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has ruled out early general elections.
Speaking to reporters at Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh state on Friday evening, he said the budgetary proposal of waiving farmers' loans to the tune of Rs600 billion (Dh15 billion) was not a populist decision keeping in mind the polls but a move to help suffering farmers.
He said the elections will be held "as per schedule".
"At least, there will be no elections this year," he added.
Asked about the Mayawati government's demand for the creation of smaller states to be carved out of Uttar Pradesh, Singh said the federal government would consider it if a proposal came from the state government. To a query on the implementation of federal schemes in Uttar Pradesh, he said "the situation is not satisfactory". Singh said the federal government would be willing to fund a major public transport project for Varanasi. He advised the state to forward a project to the federal government.
Pointing out that Varanasi is included in the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), he said the federal Tourism Ministry has also selected Varanasi for some major projects for tourism development.
He said the state would be asked to form a Group of Experts to prepare a Heritage Development Plan for the city, which would be funded from JNNURM and other sources.
"A sum of Rs700 million would be provided to Varanasi under the Mega Cluster Scheme announced in this year's Union budget to improve the infrastructure facilities for weavers through better storage, weaving, production, health, training and design facilities," Singh said. He said his government would work with the state to bring a large number of powerloom workers under a group insurance scheme to be launched from April 1.
The Banaras Hindu University (BHU) yesterday awarded an honorary D.Litt. to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for his "contributions to the Indian society".
The degree was awarded by Karan Singh, the chancellor of the university, at its 90th convocation.
The University also conferred honorary D.Litts on painter Satish Gujral and historian Irfan Habib.
During the convocation, 29 medals, 179 PhDs, 2,023 post-graduate degrees and 4,252 bachelor degrees were also awarded to students.
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