UP Polls
Rahul not able to connect; Maya, Mulayam derailed by corruption, misrule and favouritism
By Amba Charan Vashishth
With the announcement of election schedule for five State assemblies, the campaign has started picking up. But the attention of the nation as also of the political parties is concentrated on the politically and electorally most volatile of these all—Uttar Pradesh. This largest state of the country with 403 MLAs sends the highest number of 80 members to Lok Sabha. Doors of power open up for whichever party sweeps the Lok Sabha polls in UP. That is why every political party is leaving no stone unturned to get an upper hand.
Congress heir-apparent Rahul Gandhi has virtually staked his political fate with the UP elections because by the time results are out, Lok Sabha elections will only be two years away. UP is vital for the Gandhi clan because both Congress president Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul represent parliamentary seats from this State. That is why he started dramatising his forays into the jhuggi-jhonparis of dalit families to project himself as their messiah. Dalits have now grown more intelligent and understanding and it will be naïve for Rahul to presume that they can be made to blindly support Congress because of his gimmicks. Their problem is roti, kapda and makaan. Their problems do not vanish just with Rahul darshan. The Food Security Bill is just a promise and who shall be eligible to derive its benefit has not yet been specified. Promises do not fill their belly, food does but it still remains elusive.
By promising to provide 4.5 per cent reservation to Muslims on the basis of religion has not gone well with the OBCs as their 27 per cent reservation now stands curtailed to 22.5. Whether religion-based reservation to Muslims will stand the test of judicial scrutiny too is doubtful.
There are no two opinions that UP suffered the most under Mayawati’s government. There was no administration worth the name. Corruption was at its highest pitch. Law and order was elusive. That Rahul whose Congress is from head to toe immersed in corruption should be waging a crusade against Mayawati corruption was the most ironic and funny. People have failed to digest it. That very Congress which let lose a reign of terror against Baba Ramdev and his disciples at the night in Delhi because they were waging a war against corruption and black money. That very Congress is every other day tormenting Anna team by inventing new allegations only because they had the guts to agitate for enactment of a strong Lokpal Bill to liberate the country of the curse of corruption.
Surprisingly Rahul Gandhi who is a ‘warrior against corruption’ in UP and other non-Congress States puts a big lock on his mouth and immobilises his hands to act against graft when he reaches the national capital. If Rahul is so much aghast at corruption why doesn’t he use his good offices to take to conclusion the criminal case against Mayawati for amassing wealth disproportionate to known sources of her income? Same is true of a similar case pending against Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav. Congress is exploiting the CBI to rein in both these leaders. Both Mulayam and Mayawati have been repaying this obligation by always coming to the rescue of Manmohan government whenever in trouble.
In fact, there appears to be an underhand understanding between the SP, BSP and Congress to help each other in times of crisis while maintaining belligerent postures in public to befool the people.
Rahul Gandhi begs for votes promising to turn UP into one of the most progressive and prosperous state in 10 years. But Congress is not new to UP. It ruled the State till about 20 years back when it was also simultaneously ruling at the Centre for about 45 years. Moreover, the parliamentary constituencies of Rae Bareily, Amethi, Phulpur etc. had throughout been the pocket boroughs of the Nehru-Gandhi family for more than 50 years since Independence. But the plight of the people of these constituencies presently represented by Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi is no better than the rest of UP in any manner.
The people of UP have experienced the reigns of Mayawati and Mulayam Singh Yadav. Their memories are not sweet but painful and bloody. They just tried to keep glued to power by dividing the people on the basis of caste, creed and region. People have now seen through their game. On the other hand, they recall sweet memories of the BJP stints when peace reigned supreme. There was appeasement of none and justice to all. BJP governments were models of good governance and progress.
While the Congress remains a house divided against itself, BJP has a galaxy of leaders who can steer the state out of its present mess to lead it to a future of hope and happiness.
