Firdaus Khan
Meerut (Uttar Pradesh). While addressing an election rally at Meerut as part of his ongoing campaign for the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi said that it is not the political parties but the people of the country bring development. “I do not make hollow promises as my intention is pure, but will promise you only one thing that a government of aam aadmi like we did it at the Centre” he added. Rahul Gandhi said that the 22 years misrule by the non-Congress Governments in UP ruined the country and dragged the state backwards.
“I am happy to be here on this sacred land I am also happy to be with Ajit Singh Ji,” he started his address.
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 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, still believed blindly that India was shining.”
“What did we do? We came to you and asked about your difficulties. You had told us that there are no sufficient jobs available in the villages. The people are forced to migrate to big cities for jobs. So 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 12,000 a year,” said Rahul Gandhi on UPA’s Mahatma Gandhi NREGA policy.
“Then we went to the farmers and asked about their problems. They told us that the doors of the banks are closed for them and many of them are being burdened with huge loans. The Centre took necessary measures to open the doors of the banks for the farmers and also framed a policy to waive off loan of the poor farmers worth Rs. 60000 crore” informed Rahul Gandhi.
“When drought-hit Bundelkhand was crying for help neither Mayawati Ji nor Mulayam Ji went there. BJP too ignored them. I had personally requested the Chief Minister to kindly go there. But she refused,” said Rahul Gandhi.

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 approved a relief package for the Bunkars. We introduced a Bunkar credit card and also helped them to get loan upto two lac rupees”.
“Mayawati was the Chief Minister for the past five years in U.P” said Rahul Gandhi and then asked “Did she come to you even once? Did Mulayam Ji ever come to you?” The big crowd responded with a roaring no.
“Till the leaders go to people and interact with them to realize their issues, the state cannot progress. You see the state of Andhra Pradesh. Congress developed the state in ten years because our leaders went to the people to understand their grievances”, he claimed.
“We made policies like MNREGA, waived-off loans of farmers and now we are in the process of bringing the right to food policy by which every poor is assured of 35 Kg of food grain. When we make these policies Mayawati Ji and the BJP ask us from where will the money come?” he wondered.
“This money is not of BSP, SP, BJP or Congress. This is the money of your sweat and blood. This money is the result of hard work of farmers and labourers. If the country is developing it is because of your efforts, your blood and sweat” said Rahul Gandhi amidst applauds.
We sent thousands of crores of rupees under MNREGA. But your Chief Minister says that the scheme is of no use. You go to any other places where Congress is in power like Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Kerala or Maharashtra, every poor will vouch for the benefit of MNREGA” he claimed.
“I go to the people to realize their strength. Your hands are tied now. The moment your hands are freed, the state will start developing. For the past 22 years, your leaders never came to you. They were busy looting the public money. The magic elephant in Lucknow gobbles up the funds meant for the poor, instead of grass and leaves” he added.
“We brought MNREGA, gave right to food, sanctioned relief packages for Bunkars and the people of Bundelkhand, waived-off loans of the poor farmers. Please tell me any one such good scheme brought in by the state Governments in the past 22 years” asked Rahul Gandhi.
“I feel angry that the successive governments in U.P, for the past few years, do not think about development. They only talk about a particular caste or religion. Your people are forced to go to Maharashtra, Mumbai, Haryana, Delhi and help those states to develop. But U.P slips backwards” said Rahul Gandhi.
“Now time has come to change the bad state of affairs in Uttar Pradesh. You go to other places and bring in positive changes there. Now let us change U.P too. The moment you have a Government of aam aadmi, the moment your leaders start coming to you and the moment the funds sent by the Centre start reaching you, the state will start progressing. We assure you that a Congress Government will bring in development here. You gave 22 years to others. Now please give five years to Congress.” he urged.
“I want the entire country look at Uttar Pradesh and marvel at the developments in the state. I dream for a day when the people from other states come to Uttar Pradesh for better jobs, education and health facilities.” he said to the cheering crowd.
“This is not the question of future of BSP or SP, but it is your future. U.P needs a government that works for all caste, religion, aam aadmi, poor, minorities, dalits and adivasis and only Congress can provide it. The moment you have a Congress Government in Uttar Pradesh, you will start witnessing developments again. Support Congress and elect our candidates,” concluded Rahul Gandhi.