A day after Narendra Modi's mega rally in Jaipur, Rahul Gandhi was in election-bound Rajasthan today and countered the Gujarat Chief Minister's jab at him with one of his own. "Your fight is my fight. I want to supress my own dreams and I want to make your dreams my own," Mr Gandhi told the people of the tribal-dominated Udaipur region, in what seemed to be a dig at Mr Modi's aspirations to be Prime Minister.He will address an election rally in Salumbar constituency of Udiapur division.
Congress general secretary in-charge for the state Gurudas Kamath said Rahul Gandhi will address two rallies this week in the state - in Salumbar today and Baran on September 17.
Congress President Sonia Gandhi will also address two rallies in the state. Though, Mr Kamath said, he has put in a request for finalising the dates of the rallies in Bhilwara and Barmer.
Mr Kamath said Rahul Gandhi's plan to kick off poll campaign in Rajasthan was finalised more than three weeks ago.
Addressing a Congress workers' meet at Gaind Ghar Ground, Bahraich on
the second day of his UP tour AICC General Secretary Rahul Gandhi lashed
out at the Mayawati Government. He said that the BSP Government has
been misusing all the welfare schemes brought in by the Central
Government meant for the poor.
Speaking to the Congress workers
assembled in large numbers Rahul Gandhi said, "my family has a good
relationship with Behrauch. It was from here Rajiv Gandhi made the
historic announcement to reduce the age limit to vote from 21 to 18." He
also said that he learnt the habit of going to the villages and meeting
the people from his grand mother and former Prime Minister Indira
Gandhi.
Referring the UPA Government policies Congress General
Secretary added, "While campaigning for the Parliament elections in 2004
Congress has promised to form a government that would work for the
common man. We had promised a government that works for the poor, dalits
and adivasis. With the implementation of schemes like MGNREGA, Janani
Suraksha Yojana, Sarva Siksha Abhiyan and Right to Education all aiming
the benefit of the poor we have indeed delivered." Underlining the
significance of the MGNREGA scheme, Rahul Gandhi said, "by the MGNREGA
policy poor persons are assured of a minimum of 100 days jobs in a year
with a daily wage of Rs120. Ask anybody in Andhra Pradesh or Kerala
about the most beneficial scheme of the Central Government. Without any
doubts most will say it is MGNREGA."
Expressing concerns over
the misuse of MGNREGA funds by the BSP Government Rahul Gandhi
commented, "we do sanction funds under this scheme to the UP Government
as well. Whatever amount the Uttar Pradesh Government demanded from the
Centre we sanctioned it. Whether it is Rs 10 or Rs 10 lakh we sent it.
But actually what is happening? Your Chief Minister says that MGNREGA is
of no use. When all other states are admitting that MGNREGA is the most
useful policy and many poor people make the job cards and enjoy the
benefit of the scheme, BSP Government says that the scheme is of no use.
I remember in October 2007 too Chief Minister Mayawati during a rally
had repeated that the MGNREGA is not beneficial. In fact the funds sent
by the Centre pocketed by the ministers."
Congress General Secretary Rahul Gndhi recalled his childhood memories
of traveling around North India with father Rajiv Gandhi. There were no
proper roads and other infracture said Rahul Gandhi. He also recalled
his visits to the houses of the poor people in Amethi. From that day
onwards I vowed to work for the development of Amethi.
On the second day of his UP tour Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi
took on the Mayawati- led BSP Government in the state. Addressing a
Congress workers' meet at Nanpara, Rahul Gandhi argued that the UP
Government has been looting the Central welfare funds meant for the
poor.
Underlining the significance of the MGNREGA scheme Rahul
Gandhi said, "By the MGNREGA policy every poor person is assured of a
minimum of 100 days jobs in a year with a daily wage of Rs120. Ask
anybody in Andhra Pradesh or Kerala about the most beneficial scheme of
the Central Government. Without any doubts most will say it is MGNREGA.
It is not just a claim. The records are available on the internet
anybody can check the fact about the benefits of the policy."
On the third day of his tour to Uttar Pradesh Congress General Secretary
Rahul Gandhi reiterated that he will continue with the bait of going to
the people to know their problems. He was addressing a rally at
Pachperwa in Balrampur, Uttar Pradesh as a part of the Congress campaign
for the upcoming assembly polls.
"Every time whenever I mingle with
the poor, visit their houses and share meals with them, some senior
leaders while sitting inside TV studios mock at me. They call such
things a drama of Rahul Gandhi," he told a gathering. "If mixing with
the people to understand their problems and issues is a drama, I will
continue with this drama throughout my life. I will go to their houses. I
will eat their food. I will drink water from their well. I may fall
sick; no problem. But I will not stop this" said Rahul Gandhi amidst
loud applauds.
Appreciating the performance of the Congress
Governments Congress General Secretary said, "The UPA Government at the
centre has been working for the benefits of the common man, poor, dalit,
adivasis and underprivileged. All the Congress led Governments at
various places like Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Delhi continue with
efforts of serving the common man. We made policies like MGNREGA, Sarva
Siksha Abhiyan and Janani Suraksha Yojana for the benefits of the poor
in the country". He then added "By the MGNREGA policy every poor person
is assured of a minimum of 100 days jobs in a year with a daily wage of
Rs120. We sanctioned amounts under this scheme to Uttar Pradesh also.
Day before yesterday only we sanctioned a huge fund for the state. We
sanctioned Rs. 3000/- crore funds for Bundelkhand too. But the amount
does not reach you" and urged "In Uttar Pradesh also you should bring in
a Government which listens to you."
Rahul Gandhi also expressed his
concern over the pathetic conditions in the hospitals in the state. "I
went to a hospital in UP where some painting and renovation works were
going on. I went inside. There were no doctors, patients or nurses. Dogs
were scampering inside. I asked them what is going on. They said that
Mayawati is on a tour to this area and she will be visiting the hospital
and therefore the renovation. As she was expected to take the road
route so the roads were being repaired and the hospital building was
being painted," he said. He advised Mayawati to go to the people and
listen to their grievances.
Rahul Gandhi kickstarted the Congress campaign for next year's Uttar
Pradesh Assembly polls in Phulpur, near Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh from
where his great grandfather, Jawaharlal Nehru, had won his first Lok
Sabha seat.