Firdaus Khan
Bahraich (Uttar Pradesh). Addressing a Congress workers’ meet at Gaind Ghar Ground, Bahraich on the second day of his UP tour AICC General Secretary Rahul Gandhi lashed out at the Mayawati Government. He said that the BSP Government has been misusing all the welfare schemes brought in by the Central Government meant for the poor.

Speaking to the Congress workers assembled in large numbers Rahul Gandhi said, “my family has a good relationship with Behrauch. It was from here Rajiv Gandhi made the historic announcement to reduce the age limit to vote from 21 to 18.” He also said that he learnt the habit of going to the villages and meeting the people from his grand mother and former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

Referring the UPA Government policies Congress General Secretary added, “While campaigning for the Parliament elections in 2004 Congress has promised to form a government that would work for the common man. We had promised a government that works for the poor, dalits and adivasis. With the implementation of schemes like MGNREGA, Janani Suraksha Yojana, Sarva Siksha Abhiyan and Right to Education all aiming the benefit of the poor we have indeed delivered.” Underlining the significance of the MGNREGA scheme, Rahul Gandhi said, “by the MGNREGA policy poor persons are assured of a minimum of 100 days jobs in a year with a daily wage of Rs120. Ask anybody in Andhra Pradesh or Kerala about the most beneficial scheme of the Central Government. Without any doubts most will say it is MGNREGA.”


Expressing concerns over the misuse of MGNREGA funds by the BSP Government Rahul Gandhi commented, “we do sanction funds under this scheme to the UP Government as well. Whatever amount the Uttar Pradesh Government demanded from the Centre we sanctioned it. Whether it is Rs 10 or Rs 10 lakh we sent it. But actually what is happening? Your Chief Minister says that MGNREGA is of no use. When all other states are admitting that MGNREGA is the most useful policy and many poor people make the job cards and enjoy the benefit of the scheme, BSP Government says that the scheme is of no use. I remember in October 2007 too Chief Minister Mayawati during a rally had repeated that the MGNREGA is not beneficial. In fact the funds sent by the Centre pocketed by the ministers."


Referring JSY scheme Rahul Gandhi said, “same is the case with the Janansi Suraksha Yojana (JSY). The scheme meant for the benefit of the poor women is also being misused in Uttar Pradesh. Every poor woman is entitled to get Rs 1,400 under this scheme to meet the expenses for the delivery. But in Uttar Pradesh the money meant for the poor women do not reach them. Instead it is getting wrongly diverted. We could gather information through the RTI that same women are shown to deliver baby every week. This clearly indicates that the money that should have actually reached the poor women is not reaching them.”

On the NRHM scam and the killing of three Chief Medial Officers in the state Rahul Gandhi said, “corruption is rampant here in UP. We filed FIR in connection with the NRHM allegations. CBI has been investigating many cases related to NRHM in which BSP ministers are also involved. Some of the ministers like Kushwaha have been running around in Delhi to escape the clutches of investigation. Crores of rupees meant for the development have been diverted to the ministers’ pockets. If we make road that is for you, the common man. We want the funds meant for making roads and other infrastructure to reach you. But this is not happening here.”

Referring to the wrong land acquisition and the atrocities happened in many villages in UP Congress General Secretary took on the BSP Government. “In Bhatta-Parsaul a lot of farmers were assaulted by the BSP Government. Police fired at the agitating farmers when they were fighting against the wrong and forceful land acquisition by the UP Government. No one from the state government went there. But the Congress went there, listened to them and understood their problems. Not only that, the Congress led Government at the centre drafted a new Land Acquisition Bill without any delay. But some parties have been opposing it. Who is the loser? It is the common man, poor farmers and villagers are the losers. Congress is committed to work for the poor. “ Appreciating the Congress run state Governments he added, “you go to Haryana or Delhi. The governments are run by the Congress in those states. These states are developing, then why not UP? UP Government takes money from the centre but divert it to individual pockets."


Repeating his leader-aam aadmi relationship Rahul Gandhi said, “till a leader goes to the poor, stays with them, eat at their home and drink water from their houses, he cannot understand poverty."
Narrating his personal experience he said, "few days back I went to a Hospital in Gorakhpur. But there were no facilities. No doctors, no nurses and no patients. May be they want to show the government that all is well with the people. But I doubt whether Mayawati knows the real problems of the people? Unless she goes to the people, talk to them and listen to them she would not able to realize the reality."
Recalling the earlier days of Mayawati and Mulayam Singh Yadav Congress leader commented, “there was a time when both Mayawati and Mulayam Singh Yadav used to get angry when they experienced the problems faced by the common man. In those days they used to roam around from place to place and go to the people. But today they do not get angry as they stopped going to the people. And so, they do not feel angry when they see a hospital where there are no basic facilities. They fly in helicopters nowadays above the heads of the common people and they stopped bothering about the aam aadmi.”
Taking a dig at Samajwadi Party he said “They talk about dalits and underprivileged. But it is to be recalled that Mulayam Singh Yadav joined hands with Kalyan Singh during the last elections.”
“We want to change UP,” he asserted. Expressing his anguish over the bad conditions in UP Rahul Gandhi said, “I feel angry for the fact that when the entire country moves forward, UP goes backward. When I go to Maharashtra, people belong to UP come to me and ask what will happen to us? The youth tell me that there is no future in Uttar Pradesh. No jobs are available here. How can they get jobs without having proper roads, sufficient electricity and water? If any industry wants to be set up they need roads, electricity and water. Our Government is not bothered about these.”
Reiterating the Congress’s commitment for the common man Rahul Gandhi assured, “here the state government represents only 10% of the people and the rest 90% are being ignored. But Congress wants to bring in a Government who works for the entire people. Uttar Pradesh is the biggest state in the country and used to show the path for other states. Rajiv Gandhi realized the potential of this state and made a lot of development here. You go to Maharashtra, Delhi or Haryana you can see that it is the people from UP help them to make roads and contribute for the development. But UP lags behind.”


Encouraging the Congress workers Rahul Gandhi concluded, “who will change this? The people of the state, the youth of the state and the Congress workers can only change this. We respect you and trust you. Our efforts will be to give full respect to all our workers so that we will work together to bring changes in Uttar Pradesh.”