Firdaus Khan
Noida (Uttar Pradesh). Addressing a well-attended election rally in Noida Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi said that BSP and SP squeezed public money like we extract juice from the sugarcane. He visited Noida campaigning for the ongoing assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh.
“Have you not seen the extractors that are used to take out juice from the sugar cane?” When the crowd responded in affirmative Rahul Gandhi said that the BSP has installed the sugar cane extractors in Uttar Pradesh to extract money meant for the poor. Before the BSP, even the SP government too had done the same. For the past 22 years this has been going on in UP. You have been hearing only promises. Amid loud applauds he also said that the concept of Noida was the brainchild of Congress.
“Congress also runs governments in Delhi and Haryana. You can experience the developments in those states. People get proper safety and security there. But in UP there is no development. Only crime and atrocities have been on the rise,” said the Congress General Secretary.
“UP is the biggest state in the country. There was a time it used to show the path to others. This state was a model for development. But today this state is lagging behind. The youth from Uttar Pradesh forced to migrate to other parts of the country as there are no jobs available in UP. During this period Mulayam was the chief minister of the state thrice while Mayawati government was in power for four terms. BJP too ruled the state. But in the past 22 years UP remains the same,” said Rahul Gandhi expressing his concern over the bad state of affairs in UP.
“In 2004 Congress had promised only one thing – a government of aam aadmi and we delivered it. We sent huge funds under Jawahar Lal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission for roads. This is your money. This money is the result of the hard work put in by the poor in the country. It is the result of their sweat and blood. But it is being looted in UP. These people do not respect you. They therefore make toll promises,” said the Congress General Secretary.
“Mulayam Singh Yadav now promises free electricity in the entire UP. 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?” he questioned.
Referring Bundelkhand Rahul Gandhi continued, “When the people in drought-hit Bundelkhand were crying for relief neither Mulayam Singh Ji nor Mayawati Ji went there. I had gone to different villages in the region. The Centre had sanctioned a relief package for the region. But that money was also plundered by the BSP ministers. The money meant for well and water went to their pockets,” said the Congress General Secretary.
“Just ahead of the assembly elections, Mayawati sacked her ministers on the charges of corruption while she allowed them to loot the people for the past five years. Mayawati axed the ministers and the BJP embraced them. BJP inducted the corrupt Kushawaha into its fold but talks loudly against corruption,” said Rahul Gandhi.
Taking a dig at Advani Rahul Gandhi said, “BJP’s senior leader undertook a nation-wide rath yatra against corruption. But the corruption in the BJP ruled states like Karnataka, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh was not visible for him.”
He then questioned the doublespeak of BJP on corruption again and said, “when Congress brought a strong constitutional Lokpal bill in the Parliament – like Election Commission - BJP blocked it by saying that such a bill was the dream of Manmohan Singh Ji and Sonia Ji. But it is the dream of aam aadmi”.
Rahul Gandhi then referred to the anti-farmer policy of the BSP Government, “the lands of the poor farmers in Tappal and Bhatta-Parsaul were forcibly grabbed by the BSP Government and sold to the rich builders. When the farmers demanded adequate compensation they got bullets.”
Repeating that non-Congress parties did nothing except for making tall promises, the Congress General Secretary said, “During every election these parties – BSP, SP and BJP - came to you with a list of promises. For the past 22 years you have been hearing only promises. They promise free electricity, water and jobs, but do nothing after the polls.”
“The state of affairs in UP at present is pathetic. We will have to change this. It is not difficult. The moment your leaders come to you, hold your hands and enquire about your problems, development will start in UP again,” he assured
“I am here not to make to shower promises. I am here to fight for you. I have enough time as I am only 41 years old. I am not in hurry. We together can transform Uttar Pradesh and this will definitely take place,” he declared.
“UP is the biggest place and there was a time when this state used to show the path to others. We can bring back Uttar Pradesh back to the top position if the youth in the state stand up and fight for a change. You go to other states, work there and contribute for development there. I am here to fight for you and let us together transform UP,” concluded Rahul Gandhi.