Firdaus Khan
Aligarh (Uttar Pradesh). Congress President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi kick-started her election campaign today for the fifth phase of assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh by addressing a well attended rally in the historic city of Aligarh which is well known for the lock-industry. She said that the two decades old non-Congress regimes dragged the state of Uttar Pradesh backwards. 
Striking an emotional chord with the people of Aligarh Sonia Gandhi said “The moment I put my feet on the land of Aligarh its glorious history comes to my mind. The memories of great scholars, famous poets and brave freedom fighters from this place give a fresh energy. This city reflects India’s unity in diversity. We should maintain the beauty and pride of Aligarh at any cost”.
The Congress President continued “You know very well that Congress always fought against all attempts to damage the secular fabric of our country. It always believed that spreading the poison of divisive ideology is a crime. We treat everyone equally. We intend to protect the interests of every section of the people. I also believe that we should extend more support towards the backward and underprivileged. We therefore make policies for their betterment and upliftment”.
Asserting the need of further improvements in the villages Sonia Gandhi said “We also want to plug the rural-urban difference. We realize that big cities cannot be strengthened without the strength of the villages. Similarly the development cannot be completed until the city-like facilities reach the villages too. The Congress-led UPA Government at the Centre has been designing policies based on this balanced vision”.
Referring various welfare scheme of the Congress led UPA Government Sonia Gandhi continued “We implemented Mahatma Gandhi NREGA policy to address the issue of unemployment in the villages by which every poor is guaranteed for a minimum of 100 days job every year. The UPA framed policies like Jawahar Lal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission to ensure house, water and roads, National Rural Health Mission to provide adequate health facilities for the poor, Sarva Siksha Abhiyan to ensure that every children in the age group of 6 to 14 get proper education, Mid-day meal scheme to ensure food to every children in the schools, Pradhanmantri Gram Sadak Yojana, opened up new Universities and implemented Rajiv Gandhi Electrification Scheme to provide electricity at every place”.
She said that the Centre made a number of schemes for the development of U.P and sent thousands of crores of rupees to the state under various schemes. “The Government at the Centre made policies and schemes for the welfare of the people and also sent huge amount of funds to every state without any discrimination, including UP. We want all people across the country to be a part of development. But it is a matter of great concern that the people of Uttar Pradesh could not avail the benefits of the Central welfare schemes or they could receive the huge amount of funds sent by the Centre. All these funds were swindled out in corruption and scams” she concerned.
Sonia Gandhi further said “There was a time when the state of Uttar Pradesh used to show the path to the entire country. But today, the people of U.P have lost their way by the misrule of BJP, SP and BSP. They move towards darkness now. These parties tell something but do something else. There has been huge gap between their promises and action”.
Reminding the people about the earlier alliances in the state, Sonia Gandhi said, “The reality is that all the parties - BJP, SP or the BSP - have joined hands for power time and again and have together ruined the state. None of these parties are concerned for the development. No one is bothered about the pain and difficulties of the poor”.
“But Congress is firm on its principles” said Sonia Gandhi and added “When the poor farmers were struggling because of huge debts the UPA Government helped them with a scheme to waiving off their loan. The doors of the banks were opened for them. We increased the procurement prices to help the farmers. There is no shortage of fertilizers at the Centre and it sent fertilizers to U.P too. But because of the corrupt distribution system by the state Government the farmers are not able to get adequate fertilizers in UP”. 
About the present pathetic conditions in U.P, the UPA Chairperson said “The people are not able to get proper jobs, adequate electricity and sufficient water in the state. No one is here to listen to the poor. There is nothing called law and order. When the Centre makes policies for the women, dalits, backward class and underprivileged the opposition parties try to create hurdles”.
“There are some parties which try to spread the ill-will among different sections and they are weakening the nation,” she said. 
Referring the policies by the Centre for minorities Sonia Gandhi said “Congress implemented the recommendations of the Sachar Committee. For the first time in the history, a separate ministry for the minorities was formed. We also gave loan worth five lakh crores of rupees under the Prime Minister’s fifteen point programme for minorities. Under Sarva Shiksha Abiyan several new schools and Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas were opened at various minority dominated areas. We also increased the budget for the Maulana Azad Foundation to provide financial assistance for the modernization of the madrasas to ensure a better career and proper education for the children. To help our sisters in the minorities we designed an easy-loan scheme for those who want to start their own business.  I can name a number of such policies which clearly prove our commitment”.
“The Congress in its election manifesto has promised to help and support the famous lock industry in Aligarh and we will fulfill it.  We know that if a door is locked with Aligarh-made lock, it is not easy to open it. Similarly every door opens itself for those who complete their study in Aligarh” she commented.
Sonia Gandhi went on to say “You therefore should try to put locks on dishonesty, divisive ideology, corruption, communalism, crime and injustice and open the doors of happiness, progress, humanity and justice. I am confident that you will do it. A lot of people across UP are looking towards Aligarh. Your voice against dishonesty and injustice will travel miles and will be heard properly. The message which this city sends reaches different corners of the world. The city of Aligarh has always been the centre for many social revolutions”. 
She exuded confidence that the electorate would pay attention on these issues and vote for her party in the coming elections. “I request you to support the Congress and RLD and ensure every single vote in their favour”.