With a war of attrition going on between the Union and the State governments over Bundelkhand, Uttar Pradesh has sought a 'Special Incentive Package' (SIP) for this rugged region as given to hill states, saying Rs 3000 crore given by the Centre was not enough. In a communication to the Union government, the UP government has insisted that just as the Centre has given special incentive package to smaller states like Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, the same should be extended to Bundelkhand region also "where life is as hard as in hill states of northern India". The state government said that recently the Union government had announced Rs 3000 crore for development of Bundelkhand. "This assistance is meagre and will not do any good to the region. If the Centre really wants development of this region, it should announce a special package as given to hill states. This will help in all-round development of the region," the letter written to the Union Rural Development Ministry says. It further says: "There exists a critical gap in promise and implementation of development projects. These gaps have to be bridged so that Bundelkhand moves on the path of progress." Since 2007, the BSP government has been seeking a special package of Rs 80,000 crore for development of Bundelkhand and Purvanchal regions. Of this fund, Rs 11,000 crore is for development of Bundelkhand only. "If UP had got that money in 2007, the face of Bundelkhand would have changed by now," the letter says. In recent past, Bundelkhand has turned out to be a battle ground where Congress and Bahujan Samaj Party are waging a political battle. Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi made forays into this area and staged 'dharna' outside Jhansi collectorate. He even forced Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to address a rally in Banda. It is not all, the Congress also made the first-time MP from Jhansi, Pradeep Kumar Jain 'Aditya' a Minister of State, sending the message loud and clear about party's concern for this region. The BSP, on its part, gave importance to this area by giving ministerial post to almost half a dozen legislators of the region. Important among them is Nasimuddin Siddiqui, who is holding important portfolios like PWD, Medical and Health, and Excise. Another legislator from Patha region, Dadoo Prasad, is Rural Development Minister. Babu Singh Kushwaha, who was divested of ministerial charge recently, is considered a blue-eyed boy of Mayawati. Besides them, Badshah Singh, Ratan Lal Ahirwar and Hari Om Upadhaya are ministers in the Mayawati Cabinet. "The BSP is ready to fight the political battle--fire with fire. But we do not want people to suffer. Therefore, the BSP wants the Union government to sanction a special package for this region so that Bundelkhand too prospers like the rest of the state," the BSP spokesman said.