Firdaus Khan
Hardoi (Uttar Pradesh). All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary Rahul Gandhi said while addressing an election rally at Hardoi (UP) said that the people with noble intentions do not make promises.
“Mulayam Singh Ji now promises that he would convert Bundelkhand to Israel. But the people of Bundelkhand do not want Israel, they want their Bundelkhand back. They want electricity and support, not promises,” said Rahul Gandhi, taking a dig at SP President Mulayam Singh Yadav.
Referring to the 2004 Lok Sabha elections, Rahul Gandhi said, “During 2004 Parliament Elections, Congress had only promised a government of aam aadmi that works for poor, farmers, minorities, dalits Hindu, Sikh, Muslims, Christians and adivasis. We had promised that we will include every people in the process of development. We wanted to take people from all caste, religion and community forward”.
“But BJP and NDA brought out a slogan in English – India Shining. They were in power for five years. But they did not go to people, farmers, labourers, talked to them or enquired about their problems, still believed blindly that India was shining. No part of India was shining then. The poor children were not having sufficient food,” said Rahul Gandhi. “When media persons asked them about the origin of the slogan, their senior leader said that it was picked up from a TV advertisement” he added.
“You realized the fact and gave them a befitting reply. You trusted Congress and gave it a mandate,” he said.
“Politics is not about watching TV. Politics is about going to the people, listening to their problems and derive policies to solve them, because people have the strength as well as the knowledge. Leaders do not possess that much knowledge. I studied in America and did my masters from England. Even the professors in America could not teach me what I learnt from the people,” said Rahul Gandhi.
“If you want to know anything about agriculture, then you should go to the farmers. Similarly to know the issues of workers, you should go to them” he said.
“We just do one thing. People have the strength and we take this strength to the Parliament. Blind promises will not bring in changes,” added the Congress General Secretary.
“If we want to develop, then the voice and strength of the people should reach the Parliament as well as assembly,” he said. "Leaders should go to the people. Mayawati is your Chief Minister for the past five years. Mulayam Singh Yadav was your Chief Minster thrice. Did any one of them come to you in the past five years? “asked Rahul Gandhi.
“When the people in the drought-hit Bundelkhand were crying, I had visited the region. I did not see either Mulayam Ji or Mayawati Ji there. Why did I go there? I wanted to realize their difficulties. I wanted to know their requirements and to see how the Central Government can help them” he said.
“In fact, it was the responsibility of the state Government to help them. But it did nothing. I, therefore, took up the matter with the Prime Minister. Without any delay he sanctioned a relief package of Rs. 8000 crore for the Bundelkhand. The Centre sent funds for the wells and tractors for the farmers. But the tractors went to the minister’s children,” he said.
“I had again visited the region. The farmers took me to the places where the construction of the wells was taking place. The well was half built. When I asked them about the reason, they told me that only the share of the farmers was used and the share from the state Government was not received. We had sent the money for the wells to the state but it did not reach the people,” said Rahul Gandhi.
“Then Bunkars approached us. They told me that they are all facing a lot of difficulties because of lack of jobs and huge burden of debts. They also informed that the state Government is not listening to them. We took a delegation of the Bunkars to the Prime Minister and the Planning Commission. The Centre immediately approved a relief package and also introduced a credit card for them. They, then requested us not to send the money sanctioned by the Centre to Lucknow as they feared that the magic elephant would consume it,” said Rahul Gandhi.
“We had not given any promises to Bundelkhand or Bunkars in 2004. But when they approached us and sought support, we helped them,” he pointed out.
“We are here not to give promises. You have the strength. But these leaders do not realize this and they wasted 22 years of your life. They do not come to you, hold your hand or respect you. The moment they start doing this, U.P will stand up and the entire world will acknowledge it”.
“I trust U.P and its people. I am here not for elections but to tell you that I feel angry to see the bad state of affairs in the state. I feel angry when your people are forced to go to other cities for jobs. Dogs are scampering inside operation theatres in the hospitals. We will have to change this,” asserted the Congress leader.
“Promises will not change anything. The Cycle and the Elephant are approaching you with promises now. I won’t talk about BJP as it is on ventilator now. I want to tell you again that UP is my home. My family was living in Allahabad. I am fighting for my family. You will see Rahul Gandhi among the people in the UP villages, till development is back in the state. From 2004 onwards you are seeing me at various places in U.P. I am here to bring in positive changes here and I will not leave till I accomplish it,” concluded Rahul Gandhi.