Aligarh: Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi kicked off his campaign in Aligarh in Uttar Pradesh by targeting both the ruling Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party.
The Gandhi scion said that the two parties were playing caste-based politics and this, in turn, was setting back the development work in the state. "Uttar Pradesh is not developing because of religion and caste politics. People are being encouraged to divide the state on religious and caste lines," said Gandhi in his speech in Hindi.
Referring to the recent riots in Muzzafarnagar district, Rahul said that the Congress was very much concerned over the growing lawlessness in the state. "Who benefited when both Hindus and Muslims died in Muzaffarnagar riots?," asked Rahul.
"Congress is aam aadmi sarkar," he said referring to the pro-people legislations introduced by the Centre.
Rahul also took credit for the Land Acquisition Bill and said that the Bill was introduced so that incidents like Bhatta Parsaul do not take place. "Land has been forcibly taken away from farmers. Farmers were killed in Aligarh a few years back. We fought for farmers and we will continue to do that," said Rahul. The Uttar Pradesh government faced protests against its proposed to enforced land acquisition in 2011. These protests that were centred on the village of Bhatta Parsaul, Greater Noida resulted in sporadic incidents of violence since January of that year.
While claiming that both the SP and the BSP have failed miserably in governance, Rahul said that only a Congress government can change the face of the state which, he claimed, was marred by politics based on religion.
He said that the Uttar Pradesh government was not concerned about the poor as it was opposing the Food Bill fearing loss of votes. "UP government does not want to introduce the Food Bill. People here don't know if they will get food tomorrow," said the Congress vice president.
Taking a swipe at the corruption in the state, Rahul asked whether the state government was working. "Is the Uttar Pradesh government working? There are no jobs in the state? Are the laptops working? Are you getting your wages?" he asked.
Rahul also aired his views on the controversy over ordianance on convicted leaders. "I was asked what I said on ordinance was not on the right time. Do we need a time to speak the truth, I spoke when I realised it was not good," he said.
Rahul Gandhi openly opposed the ordinance saying it was a complete nonsense. He said, "The ordinance is a complete nonsense, should be torn and thrown away."
Rahul said, "All parties do this because of political considerations and we must stop making political compromises." The remarks came as an embarrassment for the party as the Union Cabinet had passed the ordinance on Tuesday over-ruling Supreme Court's judgement. Rahul's statement is surprising considering the government could not have cleared the ordinance without consulting the party which is headed by himself and his mother Sonia Gandhi.
Rahul will also address another rally in Rampur on Wednesday. The rallies are aimed to be part of an awareness drive, mainly to apprise the farmers with the recent Land Acquisition Bill.
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