Firdaus Khan
Gunnaur (Uttar Pradesh). Kicking off his second phase of the Congress Campaign for the upcoming assembly polls in the state, Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi promised that Congress can bring back Uttar Pradesh to the top position again. Addressing a Congress workers’ meet at Babrala in Gunnaur AICC General Secretary said that all the non-Congress Governments which ruled the state for the past 20 years pulled the state backward.
Referring to UPA Government policies, Congress General Secretary added, “While campaigning for the Parliament elections in 2004 Congress had made only single promise to form a government that would work for the common man while other parties made a number of hollow promises. We had promised a government that works for the poor, dalits and adivasis. With the implementation of schemes like  MGNREGA, Janani Suraksha Yojana and Sarva Siksha Abhiyan all aiming the benefit of the poor we have indeed delivered.” Underlining the significance of the MGNREGA scheme, Rahul Gandhi said, “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 Rs120. 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.” He also rubbished the ‘India Shining’ slogan of BJP led NDA.
Taking a dig at Mayawati Rahul Gandhi continued “Your Chief Minister says that MGNREGA is of no use. When all other states are admitting that MGNREGA is the most useful policy, your Chief Minister says that the scheme is of no use. I remember in October 2007 Mayawatiji during a rally had said that the MGNREGA is not beneficial for the state."
Referring JSY scheme Rahul Gandhi said, “same is the case with the Janansi 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 the women are forced to bribe the authorities. The Youth Congress workers 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.” Rahul Gandhi also commented about the NRHM scam reported in the state.
Rahul Gandhi said that the UPA Government realizes the strength of the farmers as well as their difficulties. “UPA is committed for the welfare of the farmers. Only with that intention, the Government at the centre brought in the Rs. 60000 cr loan waive-off policy. It was with the same intention to serve the common man Indira Gandhi had introduced the policy of nationalization of the banks” said the Congress M.P from Amethi.
Criticising the negative stand taken by the Mayawati Government towards the farmers by way of the wrong land acquisition and the atrocities happened in many villages in UP Congress General Secretary added  “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 continued “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 from the SP, BJP or SP went there. But we 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 without any delay. But some parties have been trying to block it behind the closed doors of Parliament. Who is the loser? Not the elite or rich people but it is the common man, poor farmers and villagers are the losers.”
Rahul Gandhi emphasized that Congress is committed to work for the poor. “We want to serve the poor. There is no shortage for funds. Our country is fast developing. We send the money to you under different schemes. But those funds do not reach you” he complained.
Referring to the local issues he said “there are some demands from your leaders. You urgently need a dam to solve the scarcity of water. Only Rs. 3 crore is required to build such a dam. But the state Government, which looted about Rs. 3000 crore under the NRHM scheme, is not extending any help for this cause. With Rs. 3000 cr they can easily construct atleast two dams in every constituency of U.P”.
Rahul Gandhi continued with his leader-aam aadmi theory and reiterated that leaders should go to the people to realize their difficulties. Sharing a strange 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.”
“Till a leader goes to the poor, stays with them, eat at their home and drink water from their houses and get sick, he cannot understand poverty” emphasized Rahul Gandhi and added “I also travel by Helicopter. To enjoy the scenes from the top is always good. By doing so you do not have to meet people or travel by the dilapidated roads.”
"Whenever I mingle with the poor, visit their homes and share meals with them some leaders while sitting inside TV studios mock at me. They call it a drama of Rahul Gandhi. I go to the villages to experience the real strength of the country. I see the future of the country in the villages. And I see the youth there who can change the country” said Rahul Gandhi amidst loud applauds.
Expressing his anger over the deteriorating conditions in the state Rahul Gandhi said, “I feel angry that the people from Uttar Pradesh are forced to go to other places for jobs. Why they are not able to get a job here in their own state?” and asked “You trusted BSP last time. Did they do anything? You earlier trusted SP too. What happened?” and answered “no roads, electricity, water, justice or jobs. Rampant corruption is seen all around“.  He then urged the people “Now please think about development, progress, future and jobs in the state. Please think about changing your state. This is not difficult.” He went on assuring the crowd “the moment you will have a government which thinks about development, the situation will change. I am ready to give it in writing that if Congress comes to power development will start in five years and within 10 years the face of your state will be changed completely and the people from other states will start coming to Uttar Pradesh.”
Encouraging the Congress workers Rahul Gandhi concluded, “I trust you. I know that you can change Uttar Pradesh. Again you can show the path for the entire country. Today states like Delhi, Haryana or Maharashtra took your place. But we should bring back our lost glory” and finished his speech with the slogan “Utho, Jaago, Badlo”.