Firdaus Khan
Barabanki (Uttar Pradesh). AICC General Secretary Rahul Gandhi began his five-day tour of Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday from Barabanki. He reached Lucknow Airport in the morning and went directly to Barabanki. He lashed out at the BSP Government in Uttar Pradesh and said that the Welfare funds sent by the UPA Government at the centre are not reaching the poor man. Rahul Gandhi also underlined the importance of the UID card, the relief packages for the weavers and MGNREGA.

“The state of Uttar Pradesh has a good family relation with my family. I came to Barabanki during the last elections, and you elected a Congress candidate from here. I am thankful for the same. Some people say that all other parties are strong but Congress is not having adequate funds. But the real strong party is the one which works honestly. The strength is not acquired through money but through the people” said the Congress General Secretary. He further added “the Governments of BJP, BSP and SP were anti-poor. They did nothing for the benefit of the poor people. But Congress is a party which is committed to work for the poor. Congress wants to install a pro-poor, pro-people Government in Uttar Pradesh. Congress cannot win the elections if the Congress workers do not work in full strength as the sincere cadres of the party is the strength of Congress. And I am confident that they will work hard for the success of the party.”

Regarding various welfare schemes implemented by the Congress-led UPA Government at the centre, Rahul Gandhi said “From 2004, The UPA is in power at the centre. UPA Government keeps sending money to all the states and it sends huge amount for the state of Uttar Pradesh too for its development. We are ready to send more. But it doesn’t reach you.” We made good schemes like MGNREGA and sanctioned huge amounts to ensure jobs to all. But is it reaching you? Where is the fund going? He asked adding “It goes to middlemen, ministers, politicians and bureaucrats. Your Chief Minister says that there is no need for MGNREGA. You go to any place across the country. Everyone says about the benefits of MGNREGA. But your Chief Minister does not need that. Ministers and contractors are being benefitted in Uttar Pradesh.”

Referring JSY scheme Rahul Gandhi said “you must have heard about Janansi Suraksha Yojana (JSY). But the scheme meant for the benefit of the poor women is also being misused in Uttar Pradesh. The money meant for the poor women do not reach them. There are reported cases that there are women who deliver baby every week! The money which actually should have reached the poor women is not reaching them. Same is the case with the loan waiver schemes for the farmers. It is your future and the future of the common man. The Chief Minister, bureaucrats or ministers do not lose any, but it is the common man who is the real loser.”

Regarding the relief package for the Weavers, Rahul Gandhi said “some of the delegates of the Bunkars came to me and said that if the scheme is 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. We also introduced a credit card for them. Further Rs. 3000 cr worth interest is waived off.” Referring the inefficient state Government, Congress General Secretary said “the Central Government is forced to deposit the amount directly to the individual account because of the inability of the state Government. UPA Government is ready to do more work for the poor, but U.P Government will not help those schemes to reach you. Unless you do not change the state Government, you cannot change your future. If the Government of Uttar Pradesh is changed, the entire U.P will change, the entire picture of U.P will be different.”

“Today India has got enough funds. The problem is that it is not reaching the common man. Now we are introducing a UID card” said Rahul Gandhi elaborating the benefits of the UID card scheme. “Now people have different cards issued by different authorities. Through the UID card scheme, every citizen will have a single card like your ration card, NREGA job card etc. Every person will be having a unique card with a unique number which will include all the details of the person. So when the Centre sends any amount it will directly go to his bank account. “

“For the past 20 years, the funds meant for the development of the state do not reach you. The money is being pocketed by the ministers, bureaucrats and politicians. We want the money meant for you should reach you directly. Our Government will ensure the same. And a Congress Government will be a Government for the poor and will work for the common man’s cause and will not be working for any particular caste or religion” he added. Rahul Gandhi also assured “we will bring back the glory in Uttar Pradesh. We will bring the state back on track”.

“Today if U.P wants to bring any progress in the fields of IT, it is not able to do. Bangalore has become the IT hub now. If U.P wants to progress in the field of Industry, it is not able to do so because Tamil Nadu has become the prime centre for the industry. Uttar Pradesh is going backwards. If you and your state 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. We will do it for you” assured Rahul Gandhi. “In the next ten years, we will bring U.P to the forefront of development. The country is looking towards Andhra Pradesh, Delhi and Maharashtra but is not looking towards Uttar Pradesh. We should change this. SP and BSP did a lot of talks but you know what they did in the past 20 years. They will continue their anti-poor policies if they get power again” warned Rahul Gandhi. “You go to Kerala, Assam or Delhi and experience the developments there. We will together change Uttar Pradesh. I am sure that the Congress will win the next elections. We will work together, fight together for a better Uttar Pradesh” said Rahul Gandhi concluding his speech.