Rahul Gandhi takes on Maya, says UP being ruled by mafia

Rahul Gandhi takes on Maya, says UP being ruled by 'mafia'


Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday launched his party's election campaign in Uttar Pradesh by attacking the Mayawati-led BSP government, saying it is corrupt, has siphoned-off central funds and is insensitive to the poor. In a symbolic move, Gandhi began his party's poll campaign Form Phulpur which was his grandfather Jawaharlal Nehru's Lok Sabha constituency. The day also marks Nehru's 123rd birth anniversary.

"Uttar Pradesh has been going backwards. Nehru was an MP from here. There has been no progress in this state. I have been in politics for seven years. In these years, I have learnt the most from the people of Uttar Pradesh," Gandhi said. Phulpur is about 30 kms from Allahabad.

Attacking the Mayawati government, Gandhi alleged that during his visit to Bundelkhand region of the state a few years ago, he had seen drought and poverty.

"The government in Delhi made MNREGA which says every individual should get work. But in Bundelkhand, it was not the case. Crores of rupees which we sent vanished. The BSP workers, contractors profited from them while the poor were left gaping," Gandhi said.

He said that Chief Minister Mayawati had not visited Bundelkhand and the economic package for the region which was sent by the Centre was not used for the people.

"I had gone to the Prime Minister and told him there is drought and poverty in the area. He sanctioned a special package of Rs 7,000 crore but the money did not reach the poor," Gandhi said.

He also mentioned Bhatta-Parsaul, saying agitating farmers were fired at by the police. He alleged that the UP government had grabbed their land and women in the area were assaulted during the agitation.

While addressing the rally, Rahul also slammed the Mayawati government in Uttar Pradesh for establishing 'mafia rule' in the state.

Gandhi evoked Nehru's name at the beginning of his speech, saying Phulpur was his "karambhoomi (land of work)".

He said Uttar Pradesh had seen a lot of changes, "but no progress".

Gandhi said he had learnt about the problems of the people during his numerous visits to the state.

In the run-up to the rally, Gandhi was the focus of most of the party’s hoardings, posters and banners put on the main crossing and roads leading to the venue, the Railway Ground (Triveninagar) at Jhusi.

A number of posters and banners shown his pictures with Nehru. In many others, Gandhi was present with the slogan, Jawab Hum Denge (We will give a befitting reply), in the backdrop of pictures of Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Volunteers of the Congress Seva Dal took out a torch procession on Sunday evening and the slogans focused on Gandhi.

The rally is likely to intensify the war of words between the Congress and the ruling Bahujan Samaj Party.

“Phulpur has now turned into a BSP bastion. So Rahul Gandhi will definitely corner the (chief minister) Mayawati government on the issues concerning development and corruption," said a Congress functionary.

To derive maximum advantage from Gandhi's rally, 10 senior leaders were deputed to take out jan sampark (mass contact) yatras across the state in the coming days. Each yatra will cover nearly 40 assembly constituencies.

news HT