Firdaus Khan
Padrauna, Kushinagar (Uttar Pradesh). On the fourth day of his tour to Uttar Pradesh Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi lashed out at Mayawati Government and teased her by saying that Mayawati’s elephant in Lucknow eats money and not the grass.
Addressing a huge gathering at Padrauna, Kushi Nagar in Uttar Pradesh on the last day of his five-day tour to the state as part of the Congress campaign for the upcoming assembly polls he did not spare BJP too. He said that BJP failed to note the problems of the people and claimed that India was shining. “They designed the ‘India Shining’ slogan behind closed doors and their leaders did not go to people, could not understand the poor state of affairs in the villages and thought that India was shining. But the people of India gave them a befitting reply by voting Congress-led UPA to power”. He underlined that the Congress is committed to work for the poor, dalits, adivasis and underprivileged.
Appreciating the efforts of the Congress-led UPA Government at the centre Rahul Gandhi said “Our Government came to you, listened to you to realize your problems. You told us that you are not able to fetch a job in your villages, but the rich people do get it. We therefore designed the biggest employment generation scheme MGNREGA for the benefit of the poor. Through the MGNREGA policy every poor person is assured of a minimum of 100 days jobs in a year with a daily wage of Rs 120, thus Rs 12,000 per year is guaranteed. All the states welcomed this policy and implemented it at their places. You go to Andhra Pradesh or any other places, you can experience that. In all these states the funds meant for the scheme reach to the people. You can find the details from the internet. Ask anybody in Andhra Pradesh or Kerala about the most beneficial scheme of the Central Government. Without any doubt most will say it is MGNREGA. All other states like Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Rajasthan, Haryana or Delhi all are benefitted by this scheme”. Taking a dig at Mayawati he continued “But your Chief Minister says that MGNREGA is not beneficial. Mayawati has said that publically also during a rally in 2007 at Lucknow. She will say that the scheme is of no use for you because she doesn’t come to you and realize your pain. If she goes to the poor they will tell her about the benefit of the scheme. But she stays in Lucknow and travels by Helicopter.”
He went on to say “I also travel by Helicopter, but I go to people too. When you go to people, mingle with them, talk to them, share meals with the, stay with them, drink water from their well and get sick then only you will be able to realize their problems. Leaders should come out of Helicopters and should go to the masses.”
Expressing his concern over the pathetic conditions of the hospitals in U.P “I went to a hospital in UP where some painting and renovation works were going on. I went inside. There were no doctors, patients or nurses. Dogs were scampering inside. I asked them what is going on. They said that Mayawati is on a tour to this area and she will be visiting the hospital and therefore the renovation. As she was expected to take the road route so the roads were being repaired and the hospital building was being painted,” he said. 
Referring the farmers’ issues Congress General Secretary claimed that the Congress Governments realizes not just the strength of the farmers but also the difficulties faced by them.  “Congress Governments have been making policies aiming for the welfare of the farmers. They acquire the lands of farmers by paying adequate compensation. When rich people sell their lands, they get proper price for the land. But in U.P if poor farmers sell their land to the Government and ask for adequate compensation, Government assaults them. BSP Government grabbed the poor farmers’ land in the Gorakhpur-Noida region forcibly.  Did not pay proper compensation and sold it to the builders. When the farmers agitated, they were labeled as Naxals. Police fired at the agitating farmers when they were merely resisting the wrong and forceful land acquisition”.
“We sent fertilizers to Uttar Pradesh for the farmers but they are being black-marketed in Nepal. As a result the farmers in the state do not get the required fertilizers and urea sent by the Union Government,” he argued.
Commenting on the misuse of Central funds Rahul Gandhi said, “The money sent through the MGNREGA does not reach the poor. Same is the case with the Janani 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 they are forced to bribe the hospital authorities to avail the benefit. This clearly indicates that the money that should have actually reached the poor is not reaching them.”
“All states, Maharashtra, Haryana, Mumbai, Kerala or Andhra Pradesh, are also surging ahead. The responsibility of the Government is to bring development. But what is happening in Uttar Pradesh? No roads, no electricity or water” he complained. Lamenting over the poor infrastructure in Uttar Pradesh Rahul Gandhi said that the roads in Uttar Pradesh last only 3 months. “The roads are languishing in dilapidated state and are littered with gutters and potholes. Because the funds meant for the roads and other amenities are being diverted to the pockets of ministers and contractors”.
Expressing his anger over the bad conditions in the state Rahul Gandhi said “I feel angry for the fact that the people of Uttar Pradesh help other countries to develop. The shining metro in Delhi was made by the labours from UP. The roads and buildings in Mumbai were built by them. Who are reaping the benefits of your labour, the respective states. But no jobs are available here in U.P. How can they get jobs without having proper roads, sufficient electricity and water? If your state and you are not developing, you will have to go to other places like Maharashtra, Punjab and Delhi and you have been doing so. We need better development and infrastructure. We need roads, electricity and sufficient water.
Attacking the state government Rahul Gandhi said that in Uttar Pradesh the real problem is the government, not the people. “They do not come to you to know your pain. They do not listen to you. The government represents only 10% of the society and it works only for them and the funds for the rest 90% are being looted. So you should not let such things happen in your state”.
Emphasizing the need for a good government Rahul Gandhi said, “you should bring in a government that works for the entire society – all caste and religion, the poor, dalits, adivasis and the underprivileged.  A government that reaches you, listen to you and understand your problems. You can see Congress Governments in Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Haryana or Delhi. We serve the poor in all those states. If a Congress government is formed in UP too, the picture in the state will also change.”
Boosting the confidence of the people Rahul Gandhi said, “you may be thinking that governments will come and go but nothing is going to happen. But you are wrong. Congress will change the state. We will together bring changes in five years. I can give it in writing. ”
“So bring in a Congress Government. Change UP,” urged Rahul Gandhi concluding his speech.