Firdaus Khan
Saharanpur (Uttar Pradeh). Congress President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi while addressing a well-attended election rally in Saharanpur said that Congress does not cheat the people by giving promises like the non-Congress parties – BJP, SP and BSP.

“Congress does not cheat people by giving promises. That can only be done by BJP, SP or BSP. They make tall promises but do nothing,” she told the crowd.

“This is a land of a number of brave freedom fighters. Many people from this historic place had played an important role in the nation building. I salute those great people,” said Sonia Gandhi, striking an emotional chord with the people in Saharanpur.

“Every sincere person wants development and upliftment of the weaker sections. For the past 22 years, parties like the BJP, SP and BSP have been betraying the people in Uttar Pradesh. There is no place for ideals and principles at present in UP. You have been tolerating this and the state has been suffering,” she said.

“What did the people here get in the past 22 years?" Sonia Gandhi asked. “Did you get proper electricity and water? Do you have proper roads here? Are your children able to get proper education? Are the fertilizers and seeds available for farmers? Has any new Industry come up in UP? How many youth in the state are able to get a job here? Are you happy with the law and order situation in UP?" Sonia Gandhi kept on asking and the crowd responded to every question with a roaring ‘no’.

Even the state Government will not be able to give me answers, argued the Congress President. “These parties – BSP, BJP and SP – indulged in corruption and other misdeeds. These parties never bothered about the people but work only to protect their own interests. They can go to any extent to grab the power,” warned the UPA Chairperson.

“No one took any step like the Congress to curb corruption. The present BSP government is a synonym for corruption. All these parties attack Congress whenever we take any step against graft. Because these parties encourage corruption, atrocities and divisive ideology,” said Sonia Gandhi.

“We send lakhs of crores of rupees to the state of Uttar Pradesh. We had sent Rs. 9000 crore under the National Rural Health Mission to provide adequate health facilities for the poor. But these funds were swindled in corruption and scams by the present BSP government and they now try to protect the culprits. The same has happened with the MNREGA funds too,” she said.

“I know that the people in UP are angry with these parties and this is the opportunity to teach them a lesson,” reminded Sonia Gandhi.

Referring to various welfare scheme of the Congress-led UPA Government, Sonia Gandhi continued, “Congress has been serving the nation sincerely and honestly. UPA Government has made a number of welfare schemes and policies for the people. The Congress- led UPA framed policies like Jawahar Lal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission to ensure house, water and roads, 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, loan facilities for the women under Self Help Group scheme and implemented Rajiv Gandhi Electrification Scheme to provide electricity at every place. We also had doubled the wages of the Anganwadi workers and sanctioned a relief package worth more than Rs. 70000 crore to waive-off the loans of the poor farmers ”.

Sonia Gandhi added, “We increased the procurement prices to help the farmers. There is no shortage of fertilizers at the Centre and it sent fertilizers to UP, too. But because of the corrupt policies of the state Government, the farmers in UP could not avail any benefit.”

“There are some parties which try to spread the ill-will among different sections,” said the Congress President.

Referring to the policies by the Centre for minorities, Sonia Gandhi said, ““The Congress-led Government at the Centre had introduced policies for the welfare of Dalits, Adivasis and minorities. 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. We also granted 4.5 percentage reservation for the backward Muslims”.

“The opposition is very much troubled to see these policies of the Congress. They know very well that they have been doing nothing for the poor other than making hollow promises during elections,” commented Sonia Gandhi.

Focusing on the issues of Saharanpur which is internationally famous for its wood carving cottage industry, Sonia Gandhi said, “Apart from various other issues, we also understand the problems being faced by the people here. Our election manifesto has addressed this issue and we will work towards finding a solution. We will work with commitment and devotion to fulfill our promises. I am here to seek your support to accomplish the mission of Congress to change the state of affairs in Uttar Pradesh”.

She exuded confidence that the electorate would pay attention to these issues and vote for her party in the coming elections. “I request you to support the Congress and ensure every single vote in the favour of Congress,” said Congress President Sonia Gandhi while concluding her address.