Firdaus Khan
Rath,  Hamirpur (Uttar Pradesh). On the second day of the fifth phase of his campaign for Congress for the upcoming assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh All India congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary Rahul Gandhi said while addressing a public rally at Rath in Hamirpur district of Uttar Pradesh, that because of the intention of Congress is clear it does not make hollow promises like other political parties. The Congress General Secretary said that the 22 years misrule of the non-Congress Governments in U.P dragged the country backwards. Rahul Gandhi added that the state needs a government that works for all caste, religion, aam aadmi, poor, minorities, dalits and adivasis and only Congress can provide it.
“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 that works for poor, farmers, minorities, dalits and adivasis and we delivered it, reminded Rahul Gandhi and added “We want every citizen, people from every caste, creed and religion, to be a part in the process of development”.
Once again taking a dig at BJP he said “But the opposition BJP and NDA brought out a slogan ‘India Shining’. When asked about the origin of the slogan their senior leader said that they picked it from a television advertisement. They would not have coined this slogan, had they visited the people, talk to them, enquire about their issues or experience the difficulties in Bundelkhand. Without realizing the reality they believed blindly that India was shining. Our intention is clear and we therefore made only one promise. The people with dubious intention only can make heap of promises”.
“The first thing we did was to implement MNREGA, the biggest employment guarantee scheme, to guarantee jobs for all. We drafted this policy as we came to you, talked to you and you told us that there were no jobs available in the villages. By this biggest employment generation scheme poor are assured of jobs if they intend to work. Every poor is assured of 100 days of work at a daily wages of Rs. 120/- thus amounting to Rs. 12000/- a year,” said Rahul Gandhi on UPA’s Mahatma Gandhi NREGA policy. “But Mayawati says that there is no benefit for the people of U.P by the MNREGA. You may ask people of the Congress ruled states like Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Haryana, Delhi, Mizoram or Assam and everyone will vouch for the benefit of the policy.”
“When we made this policy, the BJP and NDA asked from where we can have money for the scheme,” informed Rahul Gandhi. “This is the money of your sweat and blood. This money is the result of hard work of farmers and labourers from UP in Maharashtra, Delhi, Haryana and Punjab. If the country is developing it is because of your efforts, your blood and sweat,” said Rahul Gandhi amidst applauds. “We do only one thing. We return the money received from you” he claimed.
On Bundelkhand package Rahul Gandhi said “I had personally requested Chief Minister Mayawati Ji to visit drought-hit Bundelkhand to find a solution to the affected people. She did not go. I went there and talked to the people there. They complained that the U.P Government is not listening to their grievances. We took up the issue with the Prime Minister and he without any delay approved a relief package,” he informed the crowd and the people acknowledged it with huge applaud. “We try to help the poor and your Chief Minister calls it a drama” he blamed.
“The moment you have a Congress Government in Uttar Pradesh, you will start witnessing developments again. I want the entire country to look at Uttar Pradesh and marvel at the developments in the state. You have a government of aam aadmi at Delhi. Now let us bring such a government in UP too. Give Congress a chance. You will see positive changes in U.P,” concluded Rahul Gandhi.