Firdaus Khan
Bahraich (Uttar Pradesh). From Barabanki, beginning Tuesday, All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary Rahul Gandhi embarked on his five-day tour of Uttar Pradesh. He criticized the non-Congress governments in the state for the lack of development in Uttar Pradesh. He alleged that the welfare funds sent by the UPA Government at the centre are not reaching the poor man.

“The MGNREGA funds sent to the state are being pocketed by the BSP politicians and ministers. The state government is also not implementing the Janansi Suraksha Yojana (JSY) meant for helping the poor women. In other parts of the country a large number of women have benefitted from the scheme. But in UP even that scheme is being misused by the state government. The funds are diverted to the pockets of the ministers and leaders,” said Rahul Gandhi.

Condemning the poor state of affairs in UP during the last 20 years under successive governments AICC general secretary cited that three police officials who were investigating the NRHM scam were killed in the state. “For the past 20 years no development works were undertaken in UP. Corruption is rampant in the entire state. It is your money that is being wasted. It is your future that is getting affected. During the SP regime criminals were moved freely even inside the police stations. Our effort is to bring a common man’s government. A government that will help the poor, farmers and Dalits,” he added.

Rahul Gandhi went on to say, “till the time your leader goes to the people, experiences their problems, stays with them, eat at their home and drink water from their houses they cannot understand their pain. When I go to the villages some people laugh at me. They question why Rahul Gandhi is going to a dalit’s or a poor man’s home. Well, I go to them to understand their issues and to derive inspiration from their strength. The strength the poor people of Uttar Pradesh have you will not see anywhere. But UP lacks even the basic facilities and infrastructure. There are no roads or electricity or even adequate potable water. So people from UP are forced go to other states like Maharashtra and Punjab.”

Elaborating on his point Rahul Gandhi said, “if you ask the people of Punjab they would say that without the workforce from UP they cannot progress. You go to Maharashtra, they will admit that a large number of persons from UP are working there. It is so because the funds meant for roads, electricity and water are being misused by the UP Government. Your future is being destroyed. Only you can change this.”

Rahul Gandhi implored the people of UP to vote for Congress. “ Give us (the Congress) five years time. We will change UP. For the past 20 years you have been seeing what is happening in the state. If these political parties come again to the power they will continue looting you. This is not happening in other places. You go to Andhra or Delhi, you can see the development and they talk only about development. If anyone is found corrupt, the Government sends him to jail. Only Congress has the courage to do so,” cautioned the Congress General Secretary.

“We should change UP and for that you should change your thought process. Uttar Pradesh is the biggest state in the country and this state can show the path for others. Only the people of UP can do it. We want a government who understands the problems of the people and listens to them. Congress Governments work for common man. We work for the poor, underprivileged, dalits, adivasis and all other sections of the society. We work for the progress of the entire people. We do not believe in any divisive ideology. If we make roads, produce electricity and water, entire people will be benefitted. In UP there is no balanced development. Some areas are developing but many other areas were ignored” said Rahul Gandhi.

Appreciating the Congress party Rahul Gandhi said “We will never forget the people. After elections also we will remember you, will work for you. So please think differently. Think about development, think about the future of the poor people, think about the future of the youth and think about the future of your state. We will together bring back U.P to Number one position”.

“I have full faith in the people of youth. The moment you make changes in your thought process, your state will progress. I come to you, eat with you, stay with you. I feel angry when I see that the funds meant for the poor people go to the pockets of bureaucrats and ministers. Now give Congress a chance, and support us. We will work together and change U.P” concluded Rahul Gandhi.