End of confrontation with Govt, says Maya

Promising a "cooperative" approach with the Centre, the UP CM seeks from the PM Rs 15,000 crore for her state.

Promising a "cooperative" approach with the Centre, UP Chief Minister Mayawati on Saturdauy sought from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Rs 15,000 crore for overall development of the state, particularly improving key infrastructural areas like power, roads and development of an international airport.

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In her first meeting with Singh after assuming office, Mayawati said the state had suffered immensely in the past three years due to the "confrontationist attitude" of the Mulayam Singh government with the Centre as also other "political and personal" reasons.

UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi joined Singh and Mayawati at the 75-minute luncheon meeting at the Prime Minister's official Race Course Road residence.

Mayawati, who was accompanied with her Cabinet colleague Satish Chandra Mishra, described her meeting as "courtesy call" and that she had discussed in detail the developmental issues in UP.

"My government will have cooperative relations with the Centre and will not allow politics to come in the way of state's development," she told reporters after the meeting.

She said about Rs 15,000 crore soft infrastructure loan should be sanctioned for speeding up developmental activities in the state.