Badaun: Playing the Muslim card, Congress
general secretary Rahul Gandhi today alleged that minorities
were not getting any benefits in Uttar Pradesh and accused the
Mayawati government of ignoring their welfare.
"Sachar committee report (on welfare of minorities) was
implemented and money for minorities was sent, but has UP
benefited. The report is being implemented in other states
like Haryana, Delhi and Maharashtra," Rahul said in a rally on
the second day of his tour of western UP.
"We fulfill our promises, MNREGA was launched and Lokpal
bill is coming. The state government is not willing to work,"
he alleged.
He alleged that leaders lacked vision and they do not
think in the long-term.
"In 1980 Rajiv Gandhi talked about computers and people
are getting benefited today. Until and unless leaders think
long-term UP cannot progress," he said.
Rahul said that states like Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka
progressed because Congress governments there had a vision and
leaders thought about the future.
"Non-Congress governments think only about today," he
said.
Alleging loot of central funds in UP, Rahul said, "Rajiv
Gandhi used to say that of Re one only 15 paise reach in
people, but in UP not a single paise is reaching."
He said that the loss was not that of the Centre or the
state government, but that of the people and UP`s future.
"The elephant in Lucknow eats money. This money is not
that of the Centre or the state government..it comes from the
contribution made by the people in development. We send money
for the people, but it does not reach them in UP," he alleged.
Gandhi, who is on the second day of his five-day trip in
the Samajwadi Party stronghold, alleged Mayawati government
was corrupt and the money meant for poor does not reach them.
Seeking a five-year stint in power, he said corruption in
UP government was affecting the future of the state as no
employment opportunity is generated in the state.
"Twenty-two years have gone by. What did you get? Mulayam
Singh came. He talked about caste. Then Mayawati came. She
also talked about caste. Give Congress five years. We will
show that we can transform this state," he said adding a
government of the poor people will can change many things.
Gandhi broke the security cordon today and mingled with
people on his way back from a madrasa during his five-day
visit to western Uttar Pradesh.
While coming out of the madrasa, he broke the security
cordon and mingled with people, who had gathered to have a
glimpse of him in nearby houses.
Gandhi alleged that leaders in UP do not talk about
poverty, they only talk about caste and religion.
"The leaders don`t say remove poverty, give employment
and food to people. They are only concerned on how to
plunder," he alleged.
"Mulayam Singh Yadav came to power, talked out a caste
and left...Mayawati came, talked about a caste and she will
also leave, but what will happen to the state`s development."
Rahul said.
He said that development took place wherever Congress
ran the government.
Accusing Mayawati and Mulayam Singh Yadav of playing
caste politics, Rahul Gandhi today sought a change in power
saying a "government of the poor" by Congress in Uttar Pradesh
will change the future of the state.
PTI
