Firdaus Khan
Mehdawal, Sant Kabir Nagar (Uttar Pradesh). All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary Rahul Gandhi while addressing an election rally at Mehdawal in Sant Kabir Nagar district as part of his ongoing campaign for the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections said that the Chief Minister in Uttar Pradesh is going to be from the Congress. “We will not ally with any party, we will ally only with people of UP.  Your voices will reach Lucknow and the money will reach you” said Rahul Gandhi.

Reminding the close relationship of his family with Uttar Pradesh Rahul Gandhi added “You have trust in me. You had reposed faith in my great grandfather, grand mother and my father. We have nothing except your faith. We possess nothing other than your affection. I will honour your trust, whether I get 400 seats, 100 seats or a single seat. I am not eying the elections, but I am bothered only about the pride of Uttar Pradesh. For the past 22 years, you kept on trusting other parties. But you did not get the due respect. But I will never forget the love, affection and respect extended to me. I come to you, share your meals and you hold my hands. I will never forget you. I am here to support you. I will continue holding hands of the farmers, labourers and the minority and will never leave you. Opposition parties say that this is my drama. I like this drama very much and I will continue this throughout my life”.

Referring 2004 Parliament elections Rahul Gandhi reminded “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”.
“But BJP and NDA brought out a slogan in English ‘India Shining. When asked about the origin of the slogan their senior leader said that they picked it from a television advertisement. They were in power for five years. But they did not go to people, talked to them or enquired about their problems, they did not ask the women about their issues, still believed blindly that India was shining.”

“You gave them a befitting reply. You decided that you trust Congress, Manmohan Singh and Sonia Ji and elected a Congress Government”, he added.

“What did we do? We did not watch TV. We came to you and asked about your difficulties”. Addressing the women audience Rahul Gandhi continued “These women told me that there are no jobs available in the villages.  Jobs are available only in the cities. That is why we have MGNREGA now. This scheme was introduced as a result of your thought. It was because of you we have this biggest employment guarantee policy now” said Rahul Gandhi on UPA’s Mahatma Gandhi NREGA policy.
“This Government is not of Congress but it is yours. We just have one thing. Your trust” asserted Rahul Gandhi.   “For the past 22 years you have been supporting other parties here. But none of them gave you the respect you deserve. They keep giving promises that they would give you electricity, water and will help the farmers. But when they come to power they loot your money. The magic elephant in Lucknow gobbles up the funds meant for the poor, instead of grass and leaves. It eats up your money daily”.

“Now this is election time and Mulayam Singh Ji has come with a slogan umeed ki Cycle. Thrice you elected him as your Chief Minister. Please tell me what did he do for you? Did you get electricity or water? I remember in 2007, goons were running the police station. Poor people were not able to lodge FIR. There was a scam in the appointment of police personnel. I was the MP of Amethi in 2007 and I know electricity was available there only for four hours. Now they have again come with a promise of free electricity. For the last 22 years there has been no power houses built in the state. From where will they give you power? Will the electricity fall from the sky?” asked Rahul Gandhi.

In his highly interactive speech Rahul Gandhi told the crowd “You please attend an election rally of Mulayam Ji. After his speech please request him to paint the blue sky with green. He will agree even that. He will commit whatever you want to hear”.

“But where were they when you required them? Where were they when your money was getting looted? Where were they when we had sent funds under MGNREGA?” he asked.

Then he asked the crowd “How many of you are farmers? When a number of people raised their hands Rahul Gandhi asked “Do you remember our policy to waive off loans of the poor farmers? The farmers approached Mulayam Singh Ji and Mayawati Ji. Did they help you? Did they open the doors of banks for you? Who helped you? It was the Congress who helped you because we realize your strength as well as your difficulties. We are aware that the country cannot move forward without the farmers and labourers. BJP, Mulayam Ji and Mayawati Ji ask from where we will have the money? This is your money; the money is the result of your hard work, your sweat and blood. We just give your money back to you”.

Then he addressed the minorities and asked a volley of questions, “How many of you are from minority community? Who implemented the Sachar Commission? Who granted you reservation? Who gave you the Bunkar’s package? And the people responded with ‘Congress’.    
On Bunkars relief package he said “Bunkars in U.P had approached me. They pleaded for assistance as they face a lot of difficulties. They informed that they had approached both SP and BSP but no one listened to them. They also shared that they are not able to secure loan from anywhere. We took them to the Prime Minister and the Centre immediately approved a relief package for the Bunkars. We introduced a Bunkar credit card and also helped them to get loan upto two lac rupees”.

Further referring the promise of reservation for minority, the Congress General Secretary said “Mulayam Singh Ji was silent when we first talked about reservation. But when Manmohan Singh Ji decided to grant reservation for the minorities, he immediately commented that the percentage was inadequate. He also said that he would have granted reservation of 28%. He was the Chief Minister in U.P thrice. Why did he not take any steps for reservation then? Without doing anything when he was in power, he now promises 28% reservation. Mayawati Ji says that she has written to Manmohan Singh Ji. Why she has to write letters? She was the Chief Minister and she could have taken a decision in this regard.”

“They make big promises, but do nothing. We do deliver but do not give hollow promises” argued Rahul Gandhi.

“I will not make hollow promises. I have the trust in your strength. You will have to bring about changes. The changes are made by the people not by the politicians. Politicians just ensure that your voice is heard by the Government. I am here to listen to you. I come to you, share your meals and drink water from your well and sometimes fall sick. I do not mind. But want to realize your difficulties. I come to you and hold your hands. Why? I Know that if we want to bring in changes it can be done only with your help. I realize your strength and power. You gave others 22 years. What did you get? “

“You go to Maharashtra, leaving behind your family here. You witnessed rampant corruption. The funds were looted. We (Congress) know how to run a Government. We have a Congress Government in the Centre and the country has been progressing. We changed Andhra Pradesh. We changed Kerala. Just visit schools in Kerala and experience the development. We changed Haryana, Delhi and Assam. We know how to function? I am here not for elections but to bring in positive changes in Uttar Pradesh”.

Reiterating that he will continue visiting people Rahul Gandhi said “Till your state stands on its own legs, till your people stop going to other cities for jobs, till you get the right to jobs here, till your farmers get justice, till you get the right to food, till the Hindu, Christian and Muslims get proper respect, Rahul Gandhi will be seen in the villages”.

“I am here not to seek votes but to build in a lifelong relationship. Whatever you do, my relationship will continue for my entire life. I have only one duty. I will take the voices of the poor, farmers, labourers and the youth and dalit to the Parliament and assembly.  If anyone creates any hindrance for this, I will fight to the last for you. Finally I want to tell you one thing. Your voices will reach Lucknow and the money will reach you” concluded Rahul Gandhi.