Lucknow, Jun 1 (IANS): Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav Thursday accused the previous Mayawati government of corruption and alleged that it had "cheated" people.

"The previous government cheated the people of the state in the name of law and order, and grave injustice was been done to the people," Yadav said in the House, replying to the governor's address.

Referring to the allegations of the opposition parties on the law and order in the state, Yadav said that course correction had been initiated and in the future it would further improve.

The last government had poor development record, he alleged.

Underlining the rampant corruption during the former Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) regime, Yadav alleged that the state had become a laboratory of corruption and the state coffers were plundered of several thousand crores of rupees in the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) scam.

Accusing the Mayawati government of looting people, victimising farmers and misusing funds meant for the welfare of the poor, he said the money meant for development was routed for raising statues and building monuments.

The chief minister asked how could a living being herself declare that she was a great personality?

Alleging that opposition party leaders, including that of his Samajwadi Party, were victimised during the previous regime, Yadav said he expected all parties to work for the all-round growth and development of the state.

On the power scenario, the chief minister said the previous government had not taken any serious initiative to improve the grim power scene and it was because of its faulty policies that his government had inherited a loss of over Rs.25,000 crore.

The previous government, purchased electricity at the rate of Rs.13 per unit, he alleged.