Firdaus Khan
Lakhimpur (Uttar Pradesh). Addressing a mammoth rally at Lakhimpur in Uttar Pradesh on the second day of third phase of the party’s campaign All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary Rahul Gandhi blamed the 22 years non-Congress government rule in the state for the lack of development. Rahul Gandhi promised that the party will bring back developments in Uttar Pradesh like it did in all Congress-ruled states.
Congress General Secretary reminded that during the campaign for the Lok Sabha elections in 2004 Congress had made only single promise – a government of aam aadmi. “Political parties brought out slogans like India Shining, which they borrowed from a TV advertisement. They decided that India is shining while sitting inside their big bungalows. India cannot shine if we do not have proper roads, adequate electricity and sufficient water. The Congress, on the other hand, promised a government that works for aam aadmi, poor, minorities, dalits and adivasis. The people gave mandate by electing an aam aadmi government of the Congress,” he said taking a swipe at BJP.
He spoke at length of the various changes brought about by the Congress-led UPA government at the centre. He reminded that it was the Congress that ensured empowering rights to the people like MGNREGA which guarantees job for every poor in the country, Right to Information, Right of Education and now is in the process of legislation of the Right to Food by providing food at subsidized rates for the poor. “By the food Security bill every poor family is assured 35 kg of food,” Rahul Gandhi said.
“We found that no jobs are available in the villages. So the first thing we did was to implement MGNREGA to guarantee jobs for all. Through MGNREGA, the biggest employment generation scheme, poor are assured of jobs if they intend to work. Through this scheme poor are assured of a minimum of 100 days jobs in a year and a daily wage of Rs 120,” said Rahul Gandhi. 
He then took on Mayawati for calling MGNREGA useless and said, “While all other states are acknowledging that MGNREGA is the most useful policy UP CM says the scheme is of no use. People in Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Assam, Rajasthan or Kerala will vouch for the benefits of the scheme. They will admit that this scheme gave them the right for employment. But your Chief Minister says that this scheme is of no use for Uttar Pradesh. The reality is that the funds meant for this scheme is eaten up by the elephant in Lucknow.”
He further added, “Earlier only MPs or MLAs or bureaucrats were able to gather any information about the government officers or its actions. The common men did not having any right to ask for any information. But by bringing the Right to Information (RTI) Act UPA government ensured that everybody in the country is empowered to ask questions. When this was implemented a number of cases of corruption came out”.
Once again lamenting that the present leaders do not go to the people Rahul Gandhi asserted, “when poor farmers were assaulted in Tappal and Bhatta-Parsaul neither Mayawati nor Mulayam Singh Yadav went there.  When the Bundelkhand area was severely hit by the drought and people suffered very badly, Mayawati ji did not consider it necessary to visit the areas. She calls herself a dalit leader. But when dalits were suffering in Bundelkhand she did not bother for their plight.”
Referring Bundelkhand package sanctioned by the Centre the Congress General Secretary continued, “when we found that the state Government and Chief Minister of UP are not at all paying attention towards the grievances of the Bundelkhand people I requested the Prime Minister to intervene. I requested him for help though it is the responsibility of the state of Uttar Pradesh. Honourable Prime Minister understood the gravity of the situation and sanctioned a relief package of Rs 3,000 crore for Bundelkhand. But that money too was gobbled up by the Mayawati’s elephant”
He then stated, “the main reason for the bad state of affairs in UP is that your leaders do not come to you, listen to you or understand your problems. They stay in Lucknow and do not come out. They therefore feel that the schemes like MNREGA or Food Security are of no use.”
“I go to the people, share their meals, drink water from their wells and sometimes I fall ill. I do not mind it at all because by visiting the poor I understand their real pain and difficulties. Some leaders call it as a drama of Rahul Gandhi. But I tell you that I will continue this ‘drama’ in future too,” declared Rahul Gandhi amidst cheers. 
“Your leaders think only about today. They do not think for the future,” pointed Rahul Gandhi. “You enjoy the benefit of mobile phones and computers today. But remember the policy for the same was framed 20 years back by Rajiv ji,” said Rahul Gandhi citing it as a good example for policies with long term vision.
Recalling the contributions of his father and late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi he said that some people mocked at Rajiv Gandhi for his visionary measures regarding computers and telephones. But today everybody is reaping the benefits. Even now when we talk about development, your future and welfare some people make fun of it,” he added.
Expressing his anguish for the rampant corruption in Uttar Pradesh Rahul Gandhi said, “here the Mayawati and her ministers think only about usurping funds. We sent funds under NREGA, NRHM but all got looted. When we sent huge amount under the NRHM, Mayawati even divided her Health ministry into two. One of her ministers Kushwaha is scouting Delhi to save himself from the CBI investigation for the irregularities committed in NRHM”. 
“Mayawati recently removed some of her ministers alleging corruption. Why did not she remove them before? Why she did it after completing the five years term of her government. This move is certainly aimed at misleading people. She has been looting the public money for the past five years,” he alleged.
“Your people go to Mumbai, Delhi, Assam, Manipur or Punjab for jobs. You built the shining Metro in Delhi. When the entire Delhi sleeps you work overnight. But you are not able to fetch a job in your own state,” argued Rahul Gandhi.
Then the young Congress leader reminded, “it is your responsibility to put an end to the mismanagement of Uttar Pradesh. You need leaders who come to you, listen to you and understand you. If you need a change you need a government that thinks about your future, your children’s education and the future of the young generation. You need a government that plans for long term.”
“You gave 22 years for other parties. Now give us five years.  You can see the states Maharashtra, Haryana, Delhi or Kerala where Congress is in power. All are developing. We will change UP too,” promised Rahul Gandhi. 
“Now you think about bringing changes. Think about bringing in a government of aam aadmi that talks about your future and development of the state. Certainly you can do it. I have full confidence in you. I am here with you to support your development and growth. You have the strength.  If Congress comes to power the development will be visible in five years and within 10 years the face of your state will be changed completely,” added Rahul Gandhi.
“No please open your eyes. You changed Maharashtra, Delhi Haryana and Punjab. You can change UP too. I am here not for elections, but to change Uttar Pradesh. And I will ensure that it is done, whether it take five, ten or fifteen years,” assured Rahul Gandhi amidst huge applauds while concluding his address.