Rahul accuses UP govt of guzzling central funds

A day after Mayawati tried to score electoral dividends by passing a resolution in the Assembly for division of Uttar Pradesh, Congress scion Rahul Gandhi brought back the focus to development issues in the run up to the 2012 polls. Gandhi accused the Mayawati led BSP government of guzzling Central funds for development of the state. Significantly, he reiterated his controversial remark on people from the state ‘going begging’ to other states terming it as an “unpleasant truth”. Gandhi who has embarked on a five-day Jan Sampark Abhiyan in eastern UP said, “The state has been left behind in development and people of UP will continue to go to other states in search of employment.”

Launching a full frontal attack on Mayawati, Gandhi repeated his remark on the poor economic condition of the state leading to large migration to other states. At a rally in Phulpur on November 14 to kickstart the campaign in UP, Rahul had questioned how long would people from UP go begging to Maharashtra and other states. This had sparked a political slugfest with BSP and all other political parties slamming Rahul for insulting UPites.

“Political leaders should pull down the glass windows of their cars and look around; I do it,” he said adding, “When I find people begging on the streets of Delhi , I pull down the windows of my car and ask them as to where they belong to and get the answer that they belong to Uttar Pradesh.”

Driving home his point that UP was lagging far behind others, Rahul accused Mayawati’s government of misusing MNREGA funds. “The UP chief minister says it is of no benefit. It is in UP that there is no benefit from MNREGA because the money is pocketed by contractors and ministers.”

Appealing to the electorate to usher in a change by voting for the Congress, Rahul Gandhi promised that once in power Congress in the next five to ten years would bring in basic development to the state- roads, electricity, power.

This five day ‘abhiyan’ would culminate in a public rally in Kushinagar on the November 26. During this period the Congress General Secretary would be meeting party workers right down to the block level in Bahraich, Shravasti, Siddharth Nagar.

Unfazed by the criticism that had erupted after his Phulpur rally, Gandhi it seems is out to prove that the sorry state of affairs in UP cannot be wished away and is boldly pitching himself against Mayawati.