In an apparent dig at the Mulayam Singh Yadav [Images] government, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh [Images] on Saturday said Uttar Pradesh [Images] "desperately" needed a leadership that is "forward looking and modern".

The prime minister said the people of the state needed a leadership that was "thinking about the future. In recent years, Uttar Pradesh has been held back by a leadership that only thinks about the past."

Dr Singh was speaking after conferring the IIM-Lucknow Lakshmipat Singhania National Leadership Awards to six persons who have achieved excellence in the fields of business, science and technology, community service and social upliftment.

"Uttar Pradesh desperately needs forward looking and modern leadership. The people of Uttar Pradesh need a government that will invest in their future," he said.