Firdaus Khan
Orai, Jalaun (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 assured that he will not leave the state till he ensures that positive changes are made in Uttar Pradesh. “Elections will come and go, but I am here to ensure that positive changes are made in U.P and I will not leave the state till then” he declared. Addressing a mammoth rally in Orai in Jalaun district, 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 did not go to people, talk to them or enquire about their problems. They did not come to the drought-hit Bundelkhand, still believed blindly that India was shining.”
“The first thing we did was to implement MNREGA, the biggest employment guarantee scheme, to guarantee jobs for all. 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. Taking a jab at Mayawati he continued, “But Mayawati says that there is no benefit for the people of U.P by the MNREGA. You may ask people in Kerala, Maharashtra, Haryana, Delhi or Assam and everyone will vouch for the benefit of the policy.”
“When we made this MNREGA 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.
“We want that no one in our country lives in hunger. We want every family should have enough food to live. This is the intention behind the Food Security Bill and we are ready with it. But your Chief Minister Mayawati Ji calls it a drama” alleged the Congress M.P from Amethi.
“But there is only drama in Uttar Pradesh, and that is the magic elephant in Lucknow which eats currency notes and funds for the poor instead of grass and leaves” Rahul Gandhi conveyed to the cheering crowd.
“For the past 22 years you have been caught between Cycle and elephant that ruined the state of Uttar Pradesh by promoting the caste based politics” said Rahul Gandhi and added “We want a Government which works for all sections of the people and not for caste and religion”.
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.
“Either the SP or BSP do not talk about your rights. But we talk about the right to food, right to education and right to job. Now SP is talking about the allowance for the unemployed people, a policy already been implemented by us. They want to take the credit of the works done by the Congress” asserted Rahul Gandhi. “These parties did not bother about the Bunkars too in U.P. But we did help them with a relief package including the waiving of loans,” he claimed.
Detailing the UPA policies he said “It was Congress which implemented recommendations of Sachhar Commission report. When we first talked about the reservation for the minorities, Mayawati Ji wrote to the PM seeking for reservation. What was she doing in the last five years? It was Congress which worked for National Highway, helped Bunkars, redrafted the Land-acquisition Bill for the benefits of farmers”. 
“Your people go to Maharashtra, Delhi, Haryana and Punjab and contribute for development there. When all other states are surging ahead, Uttar Pradesh slips backwards. Both ‘elephant’ and ‘Cycle’ come to you only during the elections time. For three times you elected the ‘Cycle’. Did you get anything?” asked Rahul Gandhi and the crowd answered with a roaring no. “These parties looted the funds meant for the poor. Rampant corruption is seen across the state. Now this is the time to change” said Rahul Gandhi.
“When I go to the people and interact with them, they call it a drama. Then why did not they go to the people? I go to the people to know their problems. I want to bring in positive changes in the state. I want to change the state with the help of the youth” he declared.
“Where were these parties when entire Bundelkhand was weeping? Where were they when the farmers in Bhatta-Parsaul were assaulted? He asked and quipped “They roam around in helicopters and travel by big vehicles and are unaware of the reality”.
 “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.