Firdaus Khan
Gola, Lakhimpur (Uttar Pradesh). All India congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary Rahul Gandhi who is spearheading the Congress campaign in poll bound Uttar Pradesh blamed the 22 years of non-Congress governments in the for the lack of development. Rahul Gandhi promised that the Congress will bring back developments in Uttar Pradesh like it did in all Congress-ruled states. He was addressing a big rally at Gola in Lakhimpur district of Uttar Pradesh during the second day of the third phase of the campaign.
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, while other parties made a number of hollow promises. “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 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, 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. 
Slamming 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 also raised questions 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 for employment. But your Chief Minister on October 9 2007 said during a rally that this scheme is of no use for Uttar Pradesh. We talk about the rights of the poor but Mayawati term it as a drama of Congress.  The funds meant for this scheme is eaten up by the magic elephant in Lucknow. Normally elephants eat leaves and grass but the magic elephant of Mayawati in Lucknow eats money.”
“When we make policies for the welfare of the poor and underprivileged, the opposition and Mayawati raise a number of questions. But if the policy is to benefit the rich and elite people, they keep mum” quipped the Congress General Secretary.
 “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 got bullets. In Tappal and Bhatta-Parsaul striking farmers including women were assaulted by the BSP Government.  Neither Mayawati nor Mulayam Singh Yadav went there.  But I went there to understand their problems. Not only that, the Congress drafted a new Land Acquisition Bill to ensure that the poor farmers get adequate compensation for their lands. But the opposition tries to block it behind the closed doors of the Parliament.  
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 the Food Security Bill. Again Mayawatiji called it a drama. Opposition parties are also opposing it. But our Prime Minister and Sonia Gandhi are committed to pass the bill,” asserted Rahul Gandhi.
 “From 2004 we have been serving the poor. Our intention is to strengthen the hands of the poor. When we talk about right to job, right to education or right to food, Mayawati calls it a drama,” alleged Rahul Gandhi.
Elaborating various relief packages sanctioned by the UPA Government Rahul Gandhi said, “we send huge amounts of funds to Uttar Pradesh. We sent Rs 3,000 crore to Bundelkhand. We send crores of rupees under MGNREGA and NRHM. All looted by Mayawati and her team. We waived off the loan of Rs 60,000 to help farmers. When we sanctioned Rs 3,000 cr package for the Bunkars in UP, the representatives of Bunkars came to me and requested that if the funds are distributed through the government set up or government run establishments the money would not reach them. So we changed the package to ensure that the money will directly reach Bunkars account.”
Rahul Gandhi also said that UPA and Congress are committed towards the betterment and welfare of the minorities and so the Centre implemented the Sachar Committee report. But UP did not get the benefit. Taking another swipe at both Maya and Mulayam Rahul Gandhi said, “when we decided to give reservation to the minorities both Maya and Mulayam did not utter a word. When we asked about their opinion on this issue of reservation too they kept quite. Mayawati did not do anything during the past five years other than looting public funds. Mulayam Singh who had joined hands with Kalyan Singh during the last elections also preferred to remain silent on the reservation issue.”
Again taking on the opposition Rahul Gandhi continued, “when we talk about rights of the poor they say that is a drama of the Congress. When I go to the people, talk to them and share their meal that too is a drama for them. If my going to people and mingling with them is a drama then please note that I will continue this drama throughout my life.”
He then explained why he prefers to go the people, “I come to you because I know that you have the knowledge. We the MP’s, leaders or the officers do not possess the practical knowledge you have.”
He then told the gathering, “the problem with your leaders is that they do not come to you. They travel by helicopters and think all is well here. But you do not have proper roads, schools, electricity, water or jobs”.
“Your people 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,” argued Rahul Gandhi.
“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 and added that he feels angry to see these pathetic conditions in the state.
Then the young Congress leader reminded, “it is your responsibility to put an end to these bad affairs in Uttar Pradesh. You need leaders who come to you, listen to you and understand you. If you need a change you need a Government who thinks about your future”.
“You gave 22 years to 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 who talks about your future and development of the state. You have a Government of aam aadmi at the Centre. You can have the same in U.P too. 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.
While concluding Rahul Gandhi repeated his request “You gave 22 years to others, now please Give us 5 years and see how UP surges ahead.”