Firdaus Khan
Rampur (Uttar Pradesh). Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi while addressing a mammoth election rally in Rampur as part of his campaign for the ongoing assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh, reiterated that the country cannot surge ahead if the state of UP is not developed. “This state is the biggest state in the country. If UP will not progress our nation cannot progress,” said Rahul Gandhi.
He asked the crowd, “You have been experiencing the regime of different parties – BJP, BSP and SP - in the state for the past 22 years. Are you happy with them?” The crowd responded loudly with ‘no’. 
“During elections leaders like Mulayam Singh and Mayawati come to you and shower promises. The poor labourers and farmers shed their sweat and blood and develop the country. But these leaders do not respect them. They loot your money. Ahead of elections they come to you and make tall promises. After coming to power, they forget the people. This has been happening for the past 22 years in UP,” said the Congress General Secretary.
“Mulayam Singh Yadav now promises free electricity in U.P. He was the Chief Minister thrice. Was the electricity available then?” he asked and quickly added “The electricity was available only for 2-3 hours a day. But now he promises free electricity. There is no power house built in the past 22 years and so how can he provide free electricity? Will it fall from the sky?”
Referring Mulayam Singh’s poll promise Rahul Gandhi continued “Mulayam Singh Ji also promises that he would convert Bundelkhand to Israel. No one in Bundelkhand wants Israel. They want electricity, water and sufficient food. He was the Chief Minister for three terms. What did he do for them? Where was he when people of drought-hit Bundelkhand were crying for help? I had gone to different villages in the region. I could see neither Mulayam Ji nor Mayawati Ji there,” asserted the Congress General Secretary. “The Congress-led Government at the Centre approved a package of Rs. 8000 crore for Bundelkhand” he informed.
Addressing the Bunkar’s issues he said “When we knew about the difficulties faced by the Bunkars in UP, we approached the Prime Minister and he without any delay approved a relief package for them. Neither SP nor BSP had helped them. The Bunkars again came to us with a request not to distribute the funds through the state Government sources as they feared that the amount would be eaten up by the ‘elephant’ of Mayawati in Lucknow. We therefore redrafted the policy so that the funds will go directly to the person’s account”
“When I intervened in these issues, Mayawati and Mulayam term it as a drama of Rahul Gandhi,’ he quipped. “The responsibility of a Government and leaders are to help the people and not to loot them or make hollow promises” reminded Rahul Gandhi.
“We are here to help you” he assured and added “We fought for Bundelkhand, Bunkars, introduced policies like MNREGA - by which every poor is assured with a minimum of 100 days of jobs @ 120/- per day. Now we are ready with the food security bill to ensure that no one in our country lives in hunger”.
Repeating that non-Congress parties did nothing except giving tall promises, the Congress General Secretary said, “For the past 22 years you have been hearing only promises. These parties promise free electricity, water and jobs, but do nothing after the polls. But when we do something they call it as drama”
“When the country develops, the Centre gets funds. The country has been developing because of your blood and sweat. We just give back this money to the people”, said Rahul Gandhi.
Attacking Mulayam Rahul Gandhi further said, “Mulayam Ji calls himself as a leader of the Muslims. Did Mulayam Singh Ji do anything for the Muslims in the past 22 years? Did you get proper education or health under his regime?” Rahul Gandhi added, “But Congress implemented Sachar Commission’s recommendations.  When we sent huge funds for scholarship to Uttar Pradesh that got vanished in Lucknow. The funds reach Kerala and Assam properly though these places are far away from Delhi. But the same is not able to reach the people in UP which is only at a stone throwing distance from Delhi.”
“When media persons had asked Mulayam Ji about his stand on reservation, he had not uttered any word. But when Congress implemented the reservation, he complained that it was inadequate.  He was the Chief Minister in UP thrice. Why did not he do anything then?” said the Congress leader questioning the double speak of SP Chief Mulayam Singh Yadav on the issue of Muslim reservation.
Rahul Gandhi did not spare Mayawati too. “Mayawati Ji says that she had written to the Prime Minister on reservation. What is the need of a letter? The Governments in Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Haryana and Delhi had not written any letters but just implemented the reservation policy,” he added.
“After doing nothing for the people during their rule, these leaders again come to you now with promises. If you trust them again, this bad state of affairs in UP will continue,” he warned.
“I am here not to make promises but to respect your knowledge and strength and to fight with you for a better Uttar Pradesh. You have a Congress Government at the Centre. Congress made MNREGA, approved packages for Bundelkhand, farmers and Bunkars. These were not our poll promises but are the examples of our commitment.  Acknowledging our good performance, the people re-elected us again in 2009. Congress believes in action, not in promises” reiterated Rahul Gandhi.
“In UP these parties – SP, BSP and BJP – divide people in the name of caste and religion. As a result there is no progress in the state. Your people are forced to go to Maharashtra, Delhi, Andhra Pradesh and Assam for jobs. All these states are developing because of you. The shining metro in Delhi was built by you. Your people help Haryana and Punjab to produce crops” said the MP from Amethi.
“Congress gave you jobs through MNREGA but SP promises un-employment allowance” he added.
“We should change this. Only the aam aadmi can change this pathetic situation. Leaders can just support you and stand by you. I am here to fight with you to bring back the lost glory of Uttar Pradesh. You have the strength. Stand up and let us together transform Uttar Pradesh” urged the Congress General Secretary.
You will see Rahul Gandhi amongst the farmers, workers and poor in the villages till U.P. stands on its own feet.  Support Congress and elect Congress candidates to take back UP on the track of progress. I am here to fight for you and I will not leave you till development takes place in UP. Thank you very much for giving me a patient hearing,” concluded Rahul Gandhi.