Firdaus Khan
Badaun (Uttar Pradesh). Addressing a Congress workers’ rally at Badaun in Uttar Pradesh, All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary Rahul Gandhi said that the state can surge ahead only if the leaders think with long term vision. He added that it was because of Rajiv Gandhi’s long term vision for a stronger India our country is benefitted by the computers and mobile phones. On the second day of the second phase of Congress’ Campaign in the run up to the upcoming assembly polls in the state Rahul Gandhi promised that a Congress government will lead Uttar Pradesh back to the top position again.
“You know all the Congress ruled states have been progressing because of the policies with long term vision. You can see that states like Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Delhi and Rajasthan all are surging ahead. But your leaders aim for only short-term benefits. That is the reason behind the bad state of affairs in U.P. All the central funds sanctioned under MGNREGA or Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) are being looted here”, he alleged.
Recalling the contributions of his late father and former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi continued “It was in 1980, Rajiv Gandhi introduced computers in our country. Some people laughed at him then. Today we are availing the benefits. Further it was in 1985 mobile phones were introduced and you know how beneficial it is for the people. So the policies with long-term vision are the main factor for development”.
 Congress General Secretary reminded that while campaigning for the Lok Sabha elections in 2004 Congress had made only single promise – a government that would work for the common man. “While other parties made a number of hollow promises we had promise  a government that works for the poor, dalits and adivasis. With the implementation of schemes like MGNREGA, Janani Suraksha Yojana and Sarva Siksha Abhiyan we have indeed delivered,” said Rahul Gandhi.  “Some parties brought out the slogan “India Shining”. They scripted the slogan sitting inside big bungalows. They did not realize the reality. But the people gave them a befitting reply and elected an aam aadmi Government”, he added taking a dig at BJP and NDA.
“We found that there no jobs available in the villages and the people are forced to migrate to big cities” said Rahul Gandhi underlining the significance of the MGNREGA scheme and added that through MGNREGA, 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. People in Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan or Kerala will vouch for the benefits of the scheme.
 While questioning the incumbent Mayawati regime in the state Rahul Gandhi said “Your Chief Minister of UP says that MGNREGA is of no use. While all other states are acknowledging that MGNREGA is the most useful policy UP 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. The reality is that the funds sent by the Centre under various schemes are being eaten up by Mayawati’s elephant in Lucknow. Normally elephants eat leaves but the elephant in Lucknow eats notes".
Rahul Gandhi claimed that all states ruled by the Congress surge ahead and added that all those states have been properly using the Central Government funds meant for the welfare of the poor. We send money to Uttar Pradesh too, he said. He once again recalled Rajiv Gandhi by saying “As Rajivji had said if the Centre sends one rupee for the development, only 15 paise reach to you”. He then quipped “Who is the loser? Not the U.P Government but it is the common man, poor farmers and villagers are the losers.”  He asserted that the Congress led Governments bring policies like MGNREGA and JSY with a purpose to ensure that the entire people of our country take part in the process of development.
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. The intention behind the Central government Rs 60,000 crore loan waive-off policy was to serve the common man. We opened the doors of the banks for the farmers.”
Citing the wrong and forceful land acquisition policies the Congress general secretary criticised the reprehensible stand of the Mayawati Government towards the farmers.  He said, “when rich 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 Naxals. 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 land acquisition by the UP Government. No one from the SP, BJP or SP attended the farmers. But we went there, listened to them and understood their problems. The Congress led Government at the centre did not stop at that. It drafted a new Land Acquisition Bill. But some parties have been trying to block it behind the closed doors of the Parliament”.
“The biggest problem in our country is the poverty. And eradication of poverty is the most important for the development. But some parties and leaders are not serious about this. They talk about caste and religion only but not at all bothered about the poor. They do not come to you, listen to you or bothered about your future” he wondered.
Rahul Gandhi highlighted that Congress is committed to work for the poor. “We want to serve the poor. There is no shortage of funds. Our country is fast developing. We send the money for you under various schemes. But those funds do not reach you,” he lamented.
Regarding the relief package for the Bunkars Rahul Gandhi said, “As per the requests of the Bunkars we made a relief package for them. Some of the delegates of the Bunkars came to me. They apprehended if the scheme for them will be 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. This is the state of affairs in U.P”
Rahul Gandhi continued with his leader-aam aadmi theory and reiterated that leaders should go to the people to realize their difficulties. “Till your leaders go to the poor, stay with them, eat at their home and drink water from their houses, they cannot understand poverty,” emphasized Rahul Gandhi.
"Whenever I mingle with the poor, visit their homes and share meals with them some leaders mock at me. I want to remind them that I go to the villages to experience the real strength of the country.” said Rahul Gandhi amidst loud applauds.
“UPA Government is concerned about minorities” said Rahul Gandhi and 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.” “What did the UP Government do? Did you get the benefit?” He asked with a comment “the funds allotted were eaten up by the elephant of Mayawati”.
He declared that Congress did deliver what it had promised. “We promised an aam aadmi Government. We formed it. We had promised MGNREGA, waiving off loan of poor farmers, Sarva Siksha Abhiyan and JSY. We implemented all those. We are now committed to bring a strong Lokpal Bill and will bring it”.
Expressing his concern 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. You built the shining Metro in Delhi. You made roads in Maharashtra and even in Ladak. Why cannot they get a job here in their own state? You trusted BSP and SP. Bothe talk about particular castes only and not about the people as a whole. What happened? No roads, electricity, water, justice or jobs and so no development.”
He then urged the people “now please think about development, progress, future and jobs in the state. Please think about changing your state. The moment you will have a government who thinks about the development, the situation will change. 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.”
Encouraging the Congress workers Rahul Gandhi concluded, “Wherever Congress is in power, you can see development there. We changed Delhi, Andhra Pradesh and Haryana. We do not talk about caste or religion but think only about development. We give only one promise, a Government of aam aadmi and we will deliver it”.