Firdaus Khan
Salempur, Deoria (Uttar Pradesh).On the third day of the fourth phase of his campaign for Congress in the poll bound Uttar Pradesh All India congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary Rahul Gandhi blamed the 22 years rule by the non-Congress parties for the pathetic conditions in the state. Addressing a public rally at Salempur in Uttar Pradesh the Congress General Secretary said that the state needs a government that works for all caste, religion, aam aadmi, poor, minorities, dalits and adivasis.
Rahul Gandhi said that the present political leaders in UP do not go to the people and so they do not understand their pain and problems. “Though I am not a poor I understand poverty because I come to you, share your meals and drink water from your well. I do so to realize your problems and pain. I want to hold your hands and work with you and wish to learn from you. I could not gather the knowledge you gave me anywhere else. I never received the love and affection you extended to me from anyone else,” said Rahul Gandhi to the cheering crowd. 
Rahul Gandhi reminded that in 2004 people gave a mandate to the Congress. He added 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. “The opposition 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. They did not go to people, share their meals or drink the contaminated water from their well, still believed blindly that India was shining.  We, instead, promised a government that works for aam aadmi, poor, minorities, dalits and adivasis and we delivered it,” he claimed.
 “We came to you, talked to you and enquired about your problems. 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 therefore send Rs 12,000 per person every year,” said Rahul Gandhi on UPA’s Mahatma Gandhi NREGA policy.
“When we make policies for the poor and aam aadmi, Mayawati and other opposition parties raise a number of questions. They ask from where we can have money for the scheme,” informed Rahul Gandhi.
“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 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.
Taking a jab at Mayawati he continued, “but Mayawati says that there is no benefit for the people of U.P by the NREGA policy. When the youth in Uttar Pradesh needs jobs badly, Mayawati denies their rights. Had she ever come to you she would have realized the gravity of the difficulties being faced by you? Now neither Mayawati nor Mulayam Singh comes to you.”
Referring farmers’ issues Rahul Gandhi referred to Tappal and Bhatta-Parsaul. He said, “when the poor farmers, whose lands were forcibly acquired by the Mayawati Government, asked for adequate compensation for their lands, they got bullets. Women were assaulted. Authorities branded the agitating farmers as Naxals.”
 “Every year many children die due to Encephalitis in Uttar Pradesh. Did Mayawati care for this? Crores of rupees we sent to curb this epidemic. But that money too was looted by Mayawati” said the Congress General Secretary.
Rahul Gandhi said that Congress always works with longterm vision. Recalling the contribution of his father and former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi he added, “the mobile phone you are using today is the result of the long term vision of Rajiv Gandhi Ji. Wherever Congress rules, we plan policies with an eye for long term, but your leaders think only for today”.
 “The real problem is that your leaders do not come to you. Did Mayawati come to you in the past five years? Did Mulayam Singh Yadav come to you?” he asked and the crowd responded with a roaring ‘no’.
To substantiate his leader-aam aadmi point Rahul Gandhi cited his personal experience. “I went to a hospital in UP where some painting and renovation works were going on. I went inside. There were no doctors, patients or nurses. Four-five dogs were scampering inside. I asked them what is going on. They said that Mayawati is on a tour to this area and she will be visiting the hospital and therefore the renovation. As she was expected to take the road route from the helipad the roads were being repaired and the hospital building was being painted to show her that all is well there. This is the state of affairs in your state.”
 Further referring the misuse of Central funds sent to U.P Rahul Gandhi said, “We send thousands of crores of rupees to UP. We sent huge funds under MNREGA and NRHM. But these funds did not reach you. The money meant for schools, roads and electricity is being looted here. The magic elephant in Lucknow eats poor people’s money instead of grass and leaves, gobbles up the funds for the state and the poor.”
The Congress General Secretary blamed the 22 years of non-Congress Governments in UP for the lack of development in the state. He repeated his promise that a Congress Government will bring back developments in Uttar Pradesh like it has been doing in all the Congress-ruled states.“You wasted 22 years by electing non-Congress Governments. You first elected BJP, they sought votes in the name of god. Then you voted for Cycle. SP was in power for three terms. But they punctured your expectations. They promised development but the goons were running the police stations. How can you trust these parties again?”
Reiterating the commitment of the Congress the M.P from Amethi remarked “We want every citizen, people from every caste, creed and religion, to be a part in the process of development”.
“We should think about changing the bad state of affairs in UP. You have the strength in you and you have the knowledge. You can definitely bring in changes here. You gave 22 years for others now give 5 years to the Congress. You trusted BSP, but the elephant usurped your funds. You voted for Cycle for three times. But it punctured your future,” he argued.
“Your people go to Maharashtra, Delhi and even Ladak and contribute for development there. But your hands are tied up in UP,” asserted Rahul Gandhi.
“Your leaders roam around in Helicopters. They, therefore, do not understand your problems. I am here not for elections but to stand by the youth and support them for bringing positive changes in Uttar Pradesh. The problem is not with the people but with the anti-poor Government in UP. The moment you stand up and free yourself UP will change,” he asserted.
“You must change this. Give Congress 5 years,” urged Rahul Gandhi. “We changed Delhi, Maharashtra, Haryana, Missoram, Assam and Kerala. All these states are developing. We can change UP too. We will bring positive changes in UP within five years. The money meant for you should reach you. You need a Government that comes to you and helps you. So stand up and support the Congress candidates and elect a Congress Government,” Rahul Gandhi said amidst acknowledgements from the crowd.
“During last Parliament elections parties approached us for alliance. But we decided to fight alone and those parties said that the Congress will be finished. But we came out strongly with 22 seats. We did not join people like Kalyan Singh for narrow political gains. We never talk of caste or religion but talk only about development,” argued Rahul Gandhi.
“You have a government of aam aadmi at Delhi. Now let us bring such a government in UP too. So give Congress a chance. The development will be visible in 5 years and in ten years UP will come back to the top position again,” concluded Rahul Gandhi.