Firdaus Khan
Sanand (Gujarat). Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi while campaigning in Gujarat attacked BJP for blocking the pro-poor policies of the Congress-led UPA government at the centre. He also recalled Mahatma Gandhi and his contribution. “Gandhi Ji inspired lakhs of leaders across the world” said Rahul Gandhi.

Rahul Gandhi said, I used to think what Gujarat has given to me. Finally I got the answer and I want to share that with you. When I was a child my father told me a story. A story about Gandhi Ji related to the independent struggle.  Gandhiji came to our house in Allahabad where Jawahar Lal Nehru and Moti Lal Nehru were staying. Jawaharlal Nehru got involved in the freedom struggle.  Motilal Nehru felt that Gandhiji had taken away his son.  He was concerned for the fact that Nehru ji rarely comes home as he was fully involved in the freedom struggle. One day Jawahar Lal ji was arrested and sent to jail.  There was some tension between Gandhiji and Motilalji. Motilalji was not able to sleep and he was roaming around in Anand Bhawan, restlessly. One night he went to Ganhi Ji’s room but could not see Gandhiji on his bed. It was the winter season. He switched on the light and surprised to see Gandhi Ji sleeping on the floor in a corner of the room.  Gandhi Ji also woke up. Moti Lal Ji asked him why he was not sleeping on the bed?  Gandhiji said Jawahar Lal is in jail and is sleeping on the floor, so I too will sleep on the floor. Motilal Ji thought for a while. From that day there was tremendous change in the thoughts of Moti Lal jee too. This is Gujarat's history... your history.  This is the history of Congress too. Congress got its ideology from Gujarat.

Today I am able to address you because of Gandhi Ji. India is the biggest democracy in the world. Who brought in democracy here? It was Gandhi Ji who gave this country democracy. Democracy is the gift of Gandhi Ji. He followed clear principles. What does democracy mean? The people’s voice should be heard; it should not be suppressed. Gandhi Ji always listened to the voices of the people, especially aam aadmi. When Gandhi Ji slept on the floor, after Jawahar Lal Nehru was jailed, he was in fact listening to the voice of Indians. Gandhi Ji not only listened to the voice of people of India but also of English. On many occasions he tried to convince the British that they are doing injustice to India.  

When the President of Brazil had visited New Delhi I could get an opportunity to meet him. I asked him who is the role model for him in politics and he immediately replied, Gandhi. Burman leader Aung San Suu Kyi who spent years together in jail in her speech did not talk about Burma, but talked about Gandhi Ji.  The concept democracy was of Gandhi Ji and Gandhi Ji belongs to Gujarat. So democracy is the gift of Gujarat. Gandhian ideology not only touched India but inspired lakhs of people across the world. The ideology of Gandhi Ji is the ideology of Gujarat. Congress government is the government of aam aadmi. That means we do hear the voices of the common people, without any discrimination.  We treat every Indian equally and we realize the strength of the people.

Just examine the policies of the UPA government at the centre as well as the previous Congress governments. We brought in policies like bank nationalization which helped the poor and green revolution which was beneficial for the farmers because we hear the voice of the people. Everyone has a mobile phone here. What was the inspiration for Rajiv Gandhi for such a revolutionary step? He went to the people, listened to them and realized their problems. Rajiv Gandhiji brought about the development in telecommunications but the concept was of Gandhi Ji that we should listen to the voice of the people. Remember, Sam Pitroda also played a crucial role in telecom revolution and he is a Gujarati.

We brought in MNREGA to guarantee jobs for every poor in the villages, without any bias. Similarly we waived-off the debts of the poor farmers. All these policies were not meant for any section of the people depending on their caste, religion or region. These were applicable for all equally. There has been wide propaganda that Gujarat is surging ahead only because of the efforts of one individual.  They think that the poor, farmers and women in the state are not contributing anything for development. All happen because of one single person!

What Gandhi Ji had taught us? A leader should listen to the voice of the people, especially the poor. He should treat everyone equally and respect the people without any bias. A leader should go to the people, realize their pain and should fight for them.  A leader should set aside his own ideas and listen to people’s voice.  A true leader makes people's dream his own dream.  The people’s troubles should be his troubles. People’s happiness should be his happiness.  That is what my guru, Gandhi Ji believed in; and you gave me such a wonderful guru. I am thankful to Gujarat for that. But what is happening here in Gujarat? Anger, hatred and corruption. Gandhi Ji fought the British but not even once she showed his anger to them.  He fought with love and one can get the things done with love too, even from enemies.  But only one thing we should make sure that our intention is noble. Getting angry is not good for a leader and when you are angry the voice of the people will not be heard. An angry leader focuses only on his own dreams.

Gujarat has a Nano factory. For every car Gujarat gives Rs. 60000. But does anyone of you have a Nano car? Whether you need it or not, you give Rs. 6000/-! In Gujarat the assembly functions for only 25 days a year and when it does, the Opposition is thrown out as the government is scared of them. There is great marketing of Gujarat, saying that Gujarat is shining. Answer me how many days in a week do you get water?  Gujarat is shining but here you have water for only 25 minutes, every third day. But the marketing team boasts that Gujarat is shining! More than ten lakh youth are jobless here, no electricity and water but they claim that Gujarat is shining! Whenever we try to introduce pro-poor policies BJP opposes it. FDI is beneficial for the farmers. FDI is to help farmers to get proper prices for their crops. It is to provide facilities like cold storages for the farmers.  Even BJP had promised FDI in its election manifesto. But when Congress brought it it just opposed it. When we talked about Land Acquisition Bill, BJP opposed it also.  . In Gujarat the assembly functions for only 25 days a year. BJP wants the same in Parliament too. Ultimately the people are the losers. If FDI is not implemented it will harm the farmers. Now it is the people of Gujarat who should take a correct decision. Please remember that the ideology of Gujarat is the ideology of our country. Gandhi Ji and Sardar Patelji taught us about that ideology.  We should therefore think properly and should arrive at a suitable decision.