Firdaus Khan
Dhaurahara, Lakhimpur (Uttar Pradesh). Spearheading the Congress campaign in the poll bound Uttar Pradesh All India congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary Rahul Gandhi lashed out at the principal opposition party BJP for their stand on Constitutional status for Lokpal. He was addressing a huge rally at Dhaurahara, Lakhimpur district of Uttar Pradesh on the third day of the third phase of the campaign.
“Just like the Election Commission of India we in the Congress wanted a constitutional status for the Lokpal institution. We are determined to have a strong Lokpal body to curb corruption. Only with that intention we brought the strong and effective Lokpal Bill. But yesterday during the debate in the Lok Sabha BJP including their senior leaders Advani ji and Sushma ji blocked the move. They talk a lot about curbing corruption but when we brought in a strong bill they refused to support it in the Parliament,” said Rahul Gandhi.
The Congress General Secretary blamed the 22 years of non-Congress Governments in UP for the lack of development in the state. He promised that the Congress will bring back developments in Uttar Pradesh like it has been doing in all the Congress-ruled states.
Rahul Gandhi reminded that during the campaign for the Lok Sabha elections in 2004, while other parties made a number of hollow promises Congress had only promised  a government of aam aadmi. “Political parties brought out slogans like India Shining. When those who had made the slogan were asked about its origin they said that they saw it in a television advertisement. They decided that India is shining without going to the people or talking to them. But in villages the reality was quite different. India cannot shine if we do not have jobs, proper roads, adequate electricity and sufficient water. We, on the other hand, promised a government that works for aam aadmi, poor, minorities, dalits and adivasis. The people gave a befitting reply to the opposition and gave their mandate by electing an aam aadmi government of the Congress,” he said taking another 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, 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,” informed Rahul Gandhi.
“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. By this biggest employment generation scheme poor are assured of jobs if they intend to work. Through MNREGA poor are assured of a minimum of 100 days jobs in a year and a daily wage of Rs 120. We, in fact, brought jobs into the remote villages using this policy,” said Rahul Gandhi. 
Once again criticisng Mayawati for calling MGNREGA useless Rahul Gandhi remarked, “while all other states are acknowledging that MGNREGA is the most useful policy UP CM says the scheme is of no use. She along with opposition also raised questions on how the Central Government will raise funds for the scheme. 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 to employment and it brought confidence in them. But UP Chief Minister during a rally on October 9 2007 said MGNREGA is of no use for the state. We talk about the rights of the poor but Mayawati calls it a drama of Congress.  The funds meant for this scheme is eaten up by the magic elephant in Lucknow.”
“When the entire country is benefitted by MNREGA the state of UP could not reap its benefits. The job cards made went to the pockets of pradhans. You are forced to bribe the authorities for availing the benefits,” argued Rahul Gandhi. He continued, “your Chief Minister feels that there is no need of right to employment for you. She fears that such a move will strengthen you. She wants to strengthen only herself and her ministers by looting the funds. We send the money from Delhi and the magic elephant of Mayawati usurps it.”
 “When we make policies for the welfare of the poor and underprivileged the opposition and Mayawati raise a number of questions. They ask from where we will arrange funds for the same. But if the policy benefits the rich and elite or builders they keep quite,” quipped the Congress General Secretary adding, “when rich sell their land they get the market price. But in UP under Mayawati Government if a poor farmer sells his land and asks for adequate compensation he gets bullets. In Tappal and Bhatta-Parsaul striking farmers including women were assaulted by the BSP Government.  They were labeled as Naxals. Neither Mayawati nor Mulayam Singh Yadav went there.  But I went there to understand their problems. When we talk about the poor they ask several questions but if something is to be done for the rich they agree immediately. This is the character of your government,” commented Rahul Gandhi.
“We send crores of rupees to UP. There is no shortage of funds today. This is not Congress, Central Government or state government money but it is yours. This money did not fall from the sky. This is the money of your sweat and blood. This money is the result of hard work of farmers and labourers. If the country is developing it is because of your efforts, your blood and sweat,” said Rahul Gandhi amidst applauds.  
“We gave the right to food, right to education and now we are going to implement the right to food policy too. But your Chief Minister says that all these are drama. For the first time in the history of our country we have brought in the Food Security Bill to ensure that no one in this country lives in hunger. Again within two days of the tabling of the Bill Mayawatiji called it a drama,” alleged the Congress General Secretary.

Again taking on the opposition Rahul Gandhi continued, “when I go to the people, talk to them and share their meal, drink the polluted water from their well that too is a drama for them. I come to you to know what are your real problems and pains.”
“We should change the prevailing poor state of affairs in UP. You wasted 22 years by electing non-Congress Governments. Now let us think for a change. I am here not for mere elections but to bring  in positive changes in Uttar Pradesh,” he reiterated.
“I belong to UP. My family belongs to UP. My great grandfather, grandmother and mother all worked for Uttar Pradesh. This is my land like yours,” he asserted.
Expressing his anguish over the pathetic living conditions in the state Rahul Gandhi lamented, “I feel angry when the people from the state have to go to Mumbai, Delhi, Haryana or Punjab for jobs. You built the shining metro in Delhi. When the entire Delhi sleeps you work overnight. Your people go as far as Ladak for work. I asked people of UP I met in Ladak. They said that they had no option as there were no jobs available in UP. You go to Punjab and they will agree that without the people of Uttar Pradesh they cannot produce crops there,” argued Rahul Gandhi.  “You people go to other states and help them to develop. Don’t the people of UP have the right to earn a job in their own state? Don’t they have the right to get their children educated here in UP?” he asked.
 “Now you change these. Mayawati ji or Mulayam ji cannot bring any positive changes in UP. You have already experienced it. Today we see only rampant corruption and daylight plunder of public money here. When Mulayam Singh Yadav was in power criminals were seen in the police stations. No FIR was registered. Then you elected Mayawati but things went worse,” said Rahul Gandhi.
The Congress leader once again referred Bundelkhand and said, “when the people started fleeing from the drought-hit Bundelkhand, Mayawati did not find it suitable to visit the region despite requests. The Prime Minister sent Rs 3,000 crore to assist the affected there. But that money also vanished. Even Montek Singh Ahluwalia observed that the usage of the package was not proper in Bundelkhand.”
“Now they again promise that they will change the state of Uttar Pradesh. In 22 years they did not do anything. Mayawati has now removed some of her ministers for corruption just five days back after five years of looting and corruption. Whom she is trying to fool?” he asked.
Rahul Gandhi also said that UPA and Congress are committed for the betterment and welfare of the minorities and so the Centre implemented the Sachar Committee report. But UP did not get the benefit. The huge funds sent for the scholarship and other benefits vanished in UP. Taking another swipe at both Mayawati and Mulayam Rahul Gandhi said, “when we decided to give reservation to the minorities both Mayawati and Mulayam did not utter a word.”
“Mulayam Singhji claims to be supporter of minorities but whenever the Congress raised the issue of reservation he remained silent. When people and the media asked him about minority reservation he remained silent. He remained silent when the Congress was deciding on quota within quota for backward Muslims. But after the Congress introduced reservation, Yadav suddenly came forward and said that the percentage was inadequate,” Rahul Gandhi told the gathering. “
“These people talk a lot but do nothing. And when we do something good they find faults with it” he complained.
 “So now this is the time to put an end to all these miseries. You can see the states Maharashtra, Haryana, Delhi or Kerala where Congress is in power. All are developing. We can change UP too. Whatever help you require from the Centre we are ready to do it,” promised Rahul Gandhi. 
“Now you think about bringing changes. I will not leave this state till I see the developments starting here. I will not leave this state till a government of poor, labourers, aam aadmi  and farmers is formed here. I will not leave this state till I make sure that the welfare policies of the Centre like MNREGA are implemented here properly,” declared Rahul Gandhi.
He asserted that the state now needs a government that ensures that the Central funds reach everybody properly and promptly. “My politics is not for two days. But I want to build a lifelong relationship with you. I want the entire country look at Uttar Pradesh and marvel at the the developments in the state. I dream for a day when the people from other states come to Uttar Pradesh for better jobs, education and health facilities,” he spoke to the cheering crowd.
“I am sure that day will come. The state of Uttar Pradesh placed on the top of the developing states. We together will work from the core of our heart to make that dream a reality,” concluded Rahul Gandhi.