Firdaus Khan
Nanpara (Uttar Pradesh). On the second day of his UP tour Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi took on the Mayawati- led BSP Government in the state.  Addressing a Congress workers’ meet at Nanpara, Rahul Gandhi argued that the UP Government has been looting the Central welfare funds meant for the poor.
Referring the UPA Government policies Congress General Secretary said that the Congress-led Union Government is framing policies for the benefit of poor.  Implementing schemes like MGNREGA, Janani Suraksha Yojana, Sarva Siksha Abhiyan, Right to Education etc for the betterment of everybody still the people of UP are denied of the benefits.
Underlining the significance of the MGNREGA scheme Rahul Gandhi said, “By the MGNREGA policy every poor person is 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. It is not just a claim. The records are available on the internet anybody can check the fact about the benefits of the policy.”
Questioning Mayawati’s ambiguous stand vis-à-vis MGNREGA Rahul Gandhi wondered, “UP Chief Minister has been saying that MGNREGA is not a useful scheme for the state. But yesterday, she claimed that she never said that MGNREGA is of no use. However, in October 2007 Mayawati during a rally in Lucknow had said that state of Uttar Pradesh will not be benefitted from the scheme. You can check the newspaper records for that. In my opinion Mayawati is wrong. Every poor person in this country will benefit from this employment guarantee scheme. ”
Adding further he said, “last time we had sanctioned Rs 5,000 crore under MGNREGA to the UP Government and yesterday we again sanctioned Rs 12,000 crore. But the sad part is that this amount does not reach the common man in the state. When I asked the people of UP they said that the MGNREGA policy is good but the benefits do not reach them. This is quite sad as this money does not belong to the central government or the state Government or the ministers it is your money. Still you are denied of it.”
Once again referring JSY scheme the Congress General Secretary said that it is another case of a good scheme being misused in the state. He said, “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 incurred during child birth. But in Uttar Pradesh the money 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.”
Regarding the pathetic conditions in the hospitals in the state he said, "few days back I had visited a hospital in UP. But there were no facilities. No doctors, no nurses and no patients. In another hospital I saw the dogs sleeping under the bed in the patients’ wards.”
 Taking a dig at Mayawati he said, “I doubt that Mayawati knows the real problems of the people? She always travels by helicopter above people’s head. Unless she goes to the people, talks to them and listens to them she would not able to realize the reality."
He reiterated his commitment to the welfare of aam-aadmi. “Till a leader goes to the poor, stays with them, eat at their home and drink water from their houses and gets sick he cannot understand poverty. I also fell sick many times but I will continue to do so," he asserted.
Rahul Gandhi said that he has learnt from Mayawati and Mulayam Singh Yadav. Earlier both of them visited the people to understand their issues.  “There was a time when both Mayawati and Mulayam Singh Yadav used to get angry when they found out the problems faced by the common man. During those days they used to roam around from place to place and go to the people. I have also learnt from them. But today they do not least affected as they stopped going to the people,” he said.

“I have been in politics for the past seven years. Some people say that I am quite novice. Yes, I am a child and am still learning. But one thing that I know certainly is that the people of this country have the strength to give befitting reply to wrong governance. Some leaders do lengthy talks sitting inside the TV studios. They ask why Rahul Gandhi is going to the villages and meeting people. I know that the real strength is in the hands of the poor people, dalit and adivasis,” said Rahul Gandhi and added.
Rahul Gandhi said that the state lacks even the basic infrastructure. “There is no electricity, water or the basic amenities available in UP. A young man once came to me and showed me a bill of Rs 26,000. He said he has only 4 bulbs in his entire house but the bill he got was for this huge amount.  When I asked him whether he gets regular electricity, he said a big no. No electricity, not much electrical instruments or bulbs, still he got a bill for Rs 26,000. This is the situation in UP”
Regarding the relief package for the Bunkars Rahul Gandhi said, “some of the delegates of the Bunkars came to me. They apprehended if the scheme for them will be implemented through the state run society the money will not reach them. So we changed the policy and made such a scheme that the money would directly reach the Bunkar’s bank account.”
Sending a warning signal Rahul Gandhi said, “if you want that the youth of this state should not go to Maharashtra or Delhi in search of jobs then you should vote to bring in a government of common man.”
Reiterating Congress’ commitment to the welfare of common man Rahul Gandhi told the party workers that the state government in UP represents only 10% of the people and the rest 90% are being ignored. “The castist governments loot the Central funds and do not bother about development. But Congress wants to bring in a government that works for everybody. Uttar Pradesh is the biggest state in the country and used to show the path to other states. You cannot change UP if you do not change the government in the state. We need a government who treats entire people as one,” he said.
Rahul Gandhi assured, “Congress will change UP in five years. Your money will reach you. It is not difficult to bring changes in the state. The people of Uttar Pradesh have the strength. They have the energy. Do not let it waste.”
 “I have come here not for elections, but to change UP.  All other states are surging ahead but UP going backwards. The people of Uttar Pradesh go to other places and contribute for the development at those places. They are not able to do anything in UP. Till you do not change this I will not go from here,” said Rahul Gandhi to the cheering crowd.
Referring to the wrongful land acquisition and the atrocities inflicted in many villages in UP Congress General Secretary took on the BSP Government. “Farmers are the biggest strength of the country. But what is happening with the farmers in UP. In Tappal and Bhatta-Parsaul a lot of farmers and women were assaulted at the behest of BSP Government. Police fired at the agitating farmers while they were merely resisting the wrong and forceful land acquisition by the UP Government. No BSP people or SP people 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. 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. We will keep on fighting for your rights,” said Rahul Gandhi. 
Expressing his confidence in the people of UP he claimed, “I am sure that Congress will win the next elections as the people of Uttar Pradesh know that only Congress can bring in the development. I am confident that all the Congress workers will work as a unit for the success for the party. 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.”
Encouraging the Congress workers Rahul Gandhi concluded with a slogan, “Change Uttar Pradesh. Bring in development. Bring in the Congress”.