Firdaus Khan
Sahaswan (Uttar Pradesh). Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi while addressing a public rally at Sahaswan in Uttar Pradesh, said that only a government of aam aadmi can bring changes in the state and lead state back on the top.
Emphasising the UPA Government’s commitment towards the common man Congress General Secretary said, “UPA Government at the Centre is committed to work for the poor, dalits and adivasis. By the MGNREGA policy, the biggest employment generation scheme, poor are assured of a minimum of 100 days jobs in a year with a daily wage of Rs 120. Ask anybody in Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana, Kerala or Kerala about this scheme. The poorest of the poor will also agree that MGNREGA is the most beneficial scheme of the Central Government. However, UP Chief Minister says that MGNREGA is of no use. While all other states are admitting that MGNREGA is the most beneficial policy Mayawatiji says that the scheme is of no use. I remember in October 2007 Mayawati ji at Lucknow had said that the MGNREGA is not beneficial for the state."
Tearing into the Mayawati government he questioned why is MGNREGA is not beneficial for the people of Uttar Pradesh? “Because the funds sent under this scheme goes to the pockets of the ministers. The elephant in Lucknow eats up all your money. Normally elephants eat grass but the Mayawati’s elephant in Uttar Pradesh eats money,” he said to the cheering crowd.
Rahul Gandhi said that the UPA Government realizes the strength of the farmers as well as their difficulties. “UPA is committed towards the welfare of the farmers. Only with that intention the government at the centre announced Rs 60,000 crore loan waivers for the farmers. I know the farmers among the crowd in front of me know what the Congress Government has done for them.  They know it was the Congress party that opened the doors of the banks for them,” said the Congress MP from Amethi.
Elaborating on his reasons behind raising the issues of MGNREGA and other schemes of the Centre Rahul Gandhi said, “there are some people who try to block all the welfare schemes meant for the poor. When we decided to waive-off the loan of the farmers some parties asked from where we will have the money? If they find any issues concerning the rich and elite people they make all hue and cry but keep quite if the poor people are suffering. And when we make any policies for the common man, they oppose.”
 Adding further he said that the central government has ensured education to all. Now the Congress part will ensure food for all the people in the country by way of Food Security Bill.
Reiterating UPA Government commitment towards minorities concerns Rahul Gandhi said, “when we found that minorities are not able to take part in the process of development in the country we implemented the recommendations of the Sachar Commission. But in UP the funds were eaten up by the elephant of Mayawati,”
Rahul Gandhi emphasised that the Congress party is always concerned about the common man, farmers and poor and alleged that BSP Government pay no attention to these issues. Criticising the negative stand taken by the Mayawati Government towards the farmers by way of the forceful land acquisition and the atrocities meted out to villagers in UP Congress General Secretary said, “when rich people sell their land they get the market price. But if a poor farmer sells his land and asks for adequate compensation he is punished and labeled as naxal. In Tappal and 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 went there. But we went there, listened to them and understood their problems”.
Rahul Gandhi continued with his leader-aam aadmi theory and reiterated that leaders should go to the people to understand their difficulties.  Taking a dig at Mulayam Singh and Mayawati he added “there was a time when both Mulayamji and Mayawatiji went to the people. They used to be angry when they saw the pain of the poor. But now they stopped bothering about the people and don’t go to them”.
 Sharing his experience he had when he visited a hospital in the state he said, “I went to a hospital in UP where some painting and renovation work was 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.”
“If you want to understand poverty you should go to the poor. If you want to know the difficulties of farmers go to them and interact with them” reminded Rahul Gandhi. He added, “but today your leaders don’t come to you but fly on helicopters. I also travel by Helicopter. If you look from the top all seem to be fine, but you will not be able to understand the reality. You understand the problems of the people only if you meet people and travel by the dilapidated roads. Till the leaders goes to the people, stay with them, share their meals, drink water from them and get sick, they will not be able to understand poverty. And until they understand the sufferings of the people the state cannot progress.”
"Whenever I mingle with the poor, visit their homes and share meals with them opposition leaders mock at me. They call it a drama of Rahul Gandhi. I go to the villages to experience the real strength of the country.” said Rahul Gandhi amidst loud applauds. 
Indicating the bad living conditions in the state Congress General Secretary added “Your people go to Mumbai, Delhi or Haryana for job. Your people made roads in Mumbai. Your people made the metro in Delhi. But you are not able to do anything in your own state and instead they travel thousands of miles to earn a living.”
Encouraging the Congress workers Rahul Gandhi concluded, “I trust you. I know that you can change Uttar Pradesh. Again you can show the path to the entire country. At Centre we have a Congress Government and if we can have a Congress Government in UP too we can ensure that the funds meant for you reach you correctly and promptly.”
Mocking the SP and BSP he quipped that the money will not be eaten up by elephant or Cycle. Not sparing the BJP he said that the BJP is already on a ventilator.
He then assured the people that If Congress comes to power then there will be government of aam aadmi in UP as well. ‘Things will back on track in five years and within 10 years the face of your state will be changed completely. The people from other states will start coming to Uttar Pradesh. So raise to the occasion, think about your future and change Uttar Pradesh,” concluded Rahul Gandhi.