Launching Congress party’s election campaign symbolically from late Jawaharlal Nehru’s constituency, Rahul Gandhi on Monday unleashed a scathing attack on Mayawati government calling it “corrupt and insensitive”.
He also accused the BSP government of diverting funds given by the Centre for development schemes which he alleged went to the pockets ruling party workers and contractors.
“Uttar Pradesh has been going backwards. Nehru was an MP from here but mafia and criminals are MPs from here these days,” Gandhi said addressing a Congress rally marking 123rd birth anniversary of the first Prime Minister of India.
“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,” he said.
“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,” he said.
“People from UP are much sought after in other states like Maharashtra and Punjab for their hard work. But, ironically, their own state is languishing in abject poverty”, he said.
Attacking the police administration, he said in Mulayam Singh Yadav’s tenure, police stations were virtually run by goondas and when people went to lodge FIRs, counter cases were slapped on them.
“Even under the present regime, people cannot get FIRs lodged unless they greased the palms of police officials. There is corruption everywhere. If you want to lodge an FIR, you have to pay money. If your daughter is raped and if you don’t have money, then you cannot lodge an FIR,” he said.