Firdaus Khan
Bahraich (Uttar Pradesh). All India congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary Rahul Gandhi while addressing an election rally at Bahraich in Uttar Pradesh, as part of his campaign for the upcoming assembly polls starting from 8th February 2012, urged the voters to remove the punctured cycle and money eating elephant and elect a pro-poor Congress Government for a better future of the state. He declared that he has come to U.P not to waste time but to bring in positive changes in the state... The Congress General Secretary repeated that the 22 years misrule by the non-Congress Governments in UP dragged the state backwards. Rahul Gandhi added that the state needs a government that works for all caste, religion, aam aadmi, poor, minorities, dalits and adivasis and only Congress can provide it.
He reminded the gathering of the Congress promise of government of aam admi. “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”.
Taking a dig at BJP he said, “The BJP and NDA brought out a slogan India Shining. When asked about the origin of the slogan their senior leader said that they picked it from a television advertisement. They did not go to people, talked to them or enquired about their problems, still believed blindly that India was shining.”
“We came to you and you told us that there are no sufficient jobs available for the poor in the villages. 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.
“When we made this MNREGA policy, the BJP and NDA asked from where we can have money for the scheme,” informed Rahul Gandhi. “This is the money of your sweat and blood. This money is the result of hard work of farmers and labourers from UP in Maharashtra, Delhi, Haryana and Punjab. If the country is developing it is because of your efforts, your blood and sweat,” said Rahul Gandhi amidst applauds. “We do only one thing. We ensure that the money we received from you reaches back to you,” he claimed.
 “For the past 22 years you have been caught between Cycle and Elephant that ruined the state of Uttar Pradesh by promoting the caste based politics,” said Rahul Gandhi and added “we want a government that works for all sections of people and not for a particular caste and religion.”
On Bundelkhand package Rahul Gandhi said, “We had sent funds for the relief of the people in the drought-hit Bundelkhand region. But the money sent for the tractors and construction of wells went to the ministers and their children”.
 “Your people go to Maharashtra, Delhi, Haryana and Punjab and contribute for development there. When you go to Maharashtra they are being threatened by Shiv Sena people. You made the shining Metro in Delhi. Your people worked hard in Haryana and Punjab. When all other states are surging ahead, Uttar Pradesh slips backwards.” added Rahul Gandhi.
Referring Samajwadi Party’s umeed ki Cycle slogan Rahul Gandhi said “Now SP asks you to trust the Cycle. For three times you elected the Cycle. It punctured your hopes and the Government fell from the Cycle. Did you get anything from it other than corruption, scam and goondaraj? ” asked Rahul Gandhi. “These parties looted the funds meant for the poor. Rampant corruption is seen across the state. Now this is the time to change the state of affairs” said Rahul Gandhi.
“Is there any deficiency in the people of U.P” he asked and continued “No. The problem is with your leaders and the anti-poor Governments. They do not come to you, talk to you or enquire about your problems. They are busy in looting your money. How long will you suffer like this?”
“We are talking about the rights of people. We gave you right for job, right to education and we are now planning to grant you the right to food by which every poor is assured of 35kg of food grain. We sent  crores of funds to Uttar Pradesh under various schemes like MNREGA, Bunkars package, NRHM, Sarva Siksha Abhiyan,  but it never reached you. The magic elephant of Mayawati Ji in Lucknow consumed all the funds. Normally elephants eat grass and leaves, but this elephant in Lucknow eats currency notes.  If you want the central funds to reach you, then you need a Congress Government in U.P,” argued Rahul Gandhi.  
“I feel angry to see when all other states like Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana – where Congress is in power – are fast developing, U.P goes backwards. Here the successive Governments in the past 22 years worked for only a particular caste or religion. But the Congress is committed to work for all sections of the society. Congress aims for only development and it never talks of caste or religion,” said the Congress General Secretary.
“Now stand up. Elect a Congress Government. Think about your future and dream for better days ahead. Dream for a day when your children get proper education, and all of you have proper health facilities. We gave you MNREGA, Right to Education and packages for farmers. What did you get in the last 22 years by the successive Governments in U.P?” Rahul Gandhi asked.
“Now support Congress. We assure you a Government of aam aadmi, that works for all sections of the society. Central Government at the Centre is ready to help you. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Ji and Sonia Gandhi Ji are there to support you. We will give whatever you ask from us. So please think about your future. Think about getting jobs in your own state and think about development.  This state can show the path to others. The moment you free your hands and think positively, changes will be visible here”, he assured.
“The people in U.P have started thinking about a positive change and this will happen. I am sure that the youth of this state will bring in changes with the support of Congress” hoped Rahul Gandhi.
“The moment you have a Congress Government in Uttar Pradesh, you will start witnessing developments again in five years. And in ten years you will not be able to recognize your own state and the entire country will wonder to see the developments here. I want the entire country look at Uttar Pradesh and marvel at the developments in the state. You have a government of aam aadmi at Delhi. Now let us bring such a government in UP too. Give Congress a chance. Elect our candidates. You will see positive changes in UP,” concluded Rahul Gandhi.