Firdaus Khan
Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh). Only the youth and the aam aadmi of the state can bring about changes in Uttar Pradesh, Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi has said. He was addressing a mammoth election rally in Kanpur on Monday, soon after an impressive road show.
“Rahul Gandhi alone cannot change U.P. I can stand by you and extend all my support to you. Only the youth and aam aadmi can bring in changes here,” said Rahul Gandhi, striking an emotional chord with the youth in the region.
“You have been witnessing the rule of different parties in the state for the past 22 years. Did any one of you get any benefit during this period? You please tell me if you noticed anything,” he asked and the crowd responded loudly with ‘nothing’.
“Uttar Pradesh is the biggest state in the country. And it has the maximum strength. Only five countries in the world are bigger than this state. But people are forced to go to other states for jobs. The youth from Uttar Pradesh go to Maharashtra, Delhi and Haryana and work there. All these states have been developing because of your blood and sweat. Your hands are tied in U.P. But you are putting in your hard work in Delhi, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana and Maharashtra. While all these states are surging ahead, U.P is slipping back”.
Expressing his concern over the bad state of affairs in U.P, Rahul Gandhi said, “Normally elections bring in changes at every place. In U.P too, you have been experiencing elections for the past 22 years. After every election you expected development in U.P. But it still remains the same.”
“During every election these parties – BSP, SP and BJP - came to you with a list of promises. But please tell me what did you get in the past 22 years? What changes did you observe during this period? For the past 22 years you have been hearing only promises. You trusted SP thrice. You gave four opportunities to BJP and BSP to rule. But nothing changed. You kept on experimenting with these parties. Uttar Pradesh wasted 22 long years,” said Rahul Gandhi.
“In Delhi, Congress is in power for the successive third term. The same is the case in Andhra Pradesh too. People elected Congress continuously because they know that we do not make hollow promises, but perform,” claimed the Congress General Secretary.
Referring to the poll promise of the SP, he said, “Mulayam Singh Yadav now promises free electricity in the entire U.P. He was the Chief Minister thrice. I still remember that the people used to receive hefty bills though there was no adequate electricity. There is no power house built in the past 22 years and so how can he provide free electricity? “Will it fall from the sky?”
"Mulayam Singh Ji also promises that he would convert Bundelkhand to Israel. No one in Bundelkhand wants Israel. He was the Chief Minister for three terms. Why did not he convert Bundelkhand to Israel then? When the people of drought-hit Bundelkhand were crying for relief, where was he? I had visited the region and talked to various people there. I could not see Mulayam Ji or Mayawati Ji anywhere. I had even requested Mayawati Ji to pay a visit to the place,” said Rahul Gandhi.
“Mayawati, being the Chief Minister, did not find it necessary to visit Bundelkhand. No one was there to help them. I took a delegation to the Prime Minister and without any delay he approved a package of Rs. 8000 crore for the relief of the region. But that amount was looted by the Mayawati Government. The tractors sent for the farmers went to the Minister’s kids. This money was the result of your sweat and blood,” asserted the Congress General Secretary.
Referring to the package for the weavers Rahul Gandhi continued,“Bunkars also had approached us. They said that neither SP nor BSP listens to their problems. We, therefore, took them to the Prime Minister. Our Prime Minister immediately sanctioned a relief package for them too. We extended them maximum help by way of waiving off loans and Bunkar’s credit card”.
He continued, “But Bunkars approached us again with another request. They told us not to send the money meant for them to Lucknow as they feared that those funds also will be looted by the state Government”.
“There is a Congress Government at the Centre. In 2004, we came to you and enquired about your difficulties, you told us that there are no jobs available in villages. That is how Mahatma Gandhi NREGA came into existence. Every poor is guaranteed with hundred days of job at a daily wage of Rs. 120,” said Rahul Gandhi.
“We realize the strength of the farmers as well as their pain. We are aware of their hard work. So we went to them. They informed us that the doors of the banks are closed for them and also that they carry the burden of heavy debts. We therefore approved a relief package worth Rs. 60000 crore for them and opened the doors of the banks for the farmers,” said Rahul Gandhi, referring to the relief package for the farmers.
He also informed, “Now we are ready with the right to food legislation. We want no one in our country should live in hunger. By this policy every poor family is assured with 35kg of food grain”.
“It is the people who give us ideas, we just implement it. From 2004, I have been visiting various villages, meeting the people, sharing their meals and drinking water from them. I go to the people to realise the strength of the people. Only the people in the villages can bring in changes,” said Rahul Gandhi amidst loud applause.
“Your leaders here do not realize this enormous strength in the people. They do not trust you and so do not come to you. Did Mayawati come to you in the past five years? Did Mulayam do so?" asked Rahul Gandhi. “They will not do so. They just think that they can fool you by just showering promises on you during elections,” reminded Rahul Gandhi.
“I am here not to make any promise. You have reposed faith in me and I respect that. I respect your knowledge as well as your strength. These parties (BJP, SP and BSP) come to you and make hollow promises because they have no respect for you,” argued Rahul Gandhi.
“If you want to hear promises only, then please go to Mayawati Ji or Mulayam Ji. You have been hearing their promises for the past 22 years. But I will assure you only one thing, that I will not leave this place till UP stands on its own feet”.
“The problem in U.P is that there is no government of the people. Here the Government works for a particular caste which represents only 10% of the population. The rest 90% are ignored. What did the dalits and people from backward classes get in the past 22 years?” Rahul Gandhi asked.
“States like Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana and Delhi are surging ahead. But there is no progress in U.P. We should change this,” he urged.
Encouraging the youth, Rahul Gandhi told them to stand up and change the bad state of affairs in the state. “We (Congress) changed Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Kerala, Haryana and Assam. We can transform UP too. I am here to support you. Your fight for development is my fight too”.
He then reiterated, “You will see Rahul Gandhi amongst the farmers, workers and poor till development starts in U.P. I want the voice of the people to reach Lucknow”.
“The moment your voice starts reaching Lucknow and when the leaders start coming to the people, development will start in U.P. You have the strength and knowledge and you can bring in change. Support Congress and elect our candidates,” concluded Rahul Gandhi.