Lucknow, May 18: Congress president Sonia Gandhi has renewed her attack against the Mayawati government and said there was complete chaos in Uttar Pradesh.
On the first day of her three- day tour of Rae Bareli, her parliamentary constituency, she said on Monday that the ruling Bahujan Samaj Party ( BSP) in the state was least concerned about the problems of the people.
“ We are sending crores of rupees to the state for the welfare of the people. But the problems remain. The farmers are in a pitiable condition as the state government is not buying their produce. I have been told about shortage of fertiliser, seed and water for irrigation. You must raise this issue with full force and seek information regarding utilisation of central funds,” she said while addressing a gathering in Saraini after inaugurating the new building of a post office.
Sonia said it was the responsibility of the people to know if the fund, which was meant for development and social welfare, was not misused.
Much against the perception that the Congress- led UPA government had turned soft towards the Mayawati government after getting the support of the BSP against the cut motion of the Bharatiya Janata Party ( BJP) in Parliament, Sonia squarely blamed the Mayawati government for ignoring the development of Rae Bareli and Amethi.
Reacting to the allegation of the state government that the Centre was depriving UP of financial assistance, she said the stepmotherly attitude of the UP government towards these two constituencies was not unknown. “ The Centre sends money to UP…. But you all know how the state government is treating Rae Bareli and Amethi,” she said.
Amethi is the parliamentary constituency of her son and Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi.
Clearly gearing up for the 2012 assembly elections in UP, Sonia said only the Congress could do justice to the people.
“ The Congress party breathes in the heart of the people of the country. So you should put your mind and heart into the Congress.
You should also accept social responsibilities,” she told party workers.
On central schemes, she said, “ We had promised before the 2009 Lok Sabha elections that there would be food security in the country. So very soon ‘ Right to Food’ would be made into an Act to ensure that nobody dies of hunger in the country.” Earlier, she paid tribute at Shaheed Smarak, a memorial for martyrs who laid down their lives during the freedom struggle.
Later, she went to Dalmau and launched the Wi- Max service of the BSNL. The Congress president who is also the chairperson of the National Advisory Council paid a surprise visit to Dehtakala Gaon, where she held a chaupal ( village gathering) and heard the problems of the people.
Rahul is expected to continue with the pace of attack against the Mayawati government on Tuesday when he addresses a rally in the Naxal- infested Ahraura area in Mirzapur district.
—Agencies