Uttar Pradesh: Campaigning is in full swing for the remaining phase of Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh where Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi, Mayawati and Akhilesh Yadav addressed various election rallies on Thursday.

Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi flayed non-Congress govts of the state for doing nothing over the past 22 years and said that whatever development is seen in Rae Bareli and Amethi has been because of the Centre.

“I ask you…what has been done by the state government in the past 22 years…something must have been done… Mayawati and Mulayam Singh came…I can’t see anything, I come to your homes…whatever change we can see in Rae Bareli and Amethi has been done by the central government. State government has done nothing”, Rahul said at an election meeting in Paterva village in Uchahar Assembly segment on Thursday.

Asking the electorate to help Congress candidates post victories, he said that he has been, “fighting your battle in Uttar Pradesh since the past two-three months and would continue to do so but you would also have to fight it as it is also the struggle of the people and women and their future”.

Gandhi, who was accompanied by veteran Congress leader Motilal Vora, said that thousands of crores of rupees have been provided by the central government but it has been misused by ministers in the state.

Referring to people from the state going out for work because of lack of jobs, he said that they go to Maharashtra but Shiv Sena activists chase them away.

Continuing his attack on election promises of political opponents, he said that leaders of other parties promise free power although in the past 22 years no new power plant has been set up here.

“How will they provide power”, he asked adding that promises are being made that Bundelkhand would be turned into Israel why did it not get anything.

On the local issues, he said that hurdles were created in setting up Rail Coach Factory and Sonia Gandhi fought for it.

On corruption, he said that centre gives funds for Indira avas but money is sought from people for this also.

Exhorting the electorate to vote for Congress to get rid of fear and backwardness, Congress star campaigner Priyaka Gandhi has asked people to exercise their franchise for a new trend in politics which is dedicated to people.

Addressing an election meeting in Sadar Assembly segment of the constituency from where Akhilesh Singh, the sitting MLA having a criminal record is seeking re-election, Priyanka said the question before the people is whether they want to be “free of backwardness and terror or not”. Singh is a Peace Party candidate this time.

“Think seriously and use your vote judiciously for development of the area,” she said on Thursday.

“It should be for bringing a new trend in politics and a leader who is dedicated to you….you have to take an important decision on February 19 to vote for yourself, your area as well as state to be rid of backwardness and fear.”

“Leave backwardness and fear behind, get rid of it and move ahead,” she said.

“In democracy, the real power is in your hands and the real responsibility is also yours,” she said, adding that it is not the question of election of one MLA but of the future of the people.

Priyanka is presently camping in her family pocket borough Rae Bareli for the party. Priyanka said that Sonia Gandhi’s hands are tied because of a non-Congress government.

“You remember how fast development had taken place in the area during Indira Gandhi’s time when Congress was in government both at the Centre and in the state. The situation is not the same now.

“Sonia ji’s one hand is always tied. You have a got a chance to open that hand on February 19 (fourth phase of polls) so that she can work for development with both hands with dedication,” Gandhi said addressing a public meeting in Rae Bareli on Thursday.

She said that whenever there is a non-Congress government in the state, it deliberately ignores Rae Bareli, which is represented by Gandhi.

Noting that there are several plans and policies by the Centre for the betterment of people in Uttar Pradesh, Gandhi said that these are not being implemented in the state properly.

“There is one more problem in your area. Sonia Gandhi is MP from here. Hence whenever there is a government of any other party in the state, it ignores your area in particular. The area will benefit if Congress comes to power in the state,” she said.

Maintaining that the state is now witnessing a “politics which seeks to intimidate and bring anarchy”, Gandhi said it was for the people to decide whether they want to continue to live under the shadow of backwardness and fear or want to bring new politics in the state and see the change in their lives.

Maya attacks Congress

Attacking Congress and its Rahul Gandhi for promising to change the face of Uttar Pradesh in five years if voted to power, Uttar Pradesh CM Mayawati has termed it as a “desperate attempt to save whatever mass support it was left with” in the state.

Cautioning the electorate against falling prey to promises and allurements of opposition parties, Mayawati asked them to be specially wary of Congress.

“In order to save whatever mass base they are left with, Congress is out to misguide the people that on coming to power it would end unemployment and poverty but these are false and high-sounding statements”, Mayawati said at an election meeting in Lucknow on Thursday.

Referring to Rahul’s remark that she (Mayawati) was doing good work before she became the chief minsiter, she said it was “indicative of Congress’ pain over the progress of her samaj”.

“Congress was happy when I had to run around seeking justice for the poor and downtrodden. But today, I have the masterkey in the form of power of the largest state and get justice for them by issuing directions to officers “, Mayawati said.

BJP not against Muslims, but reservation: Swaraj

Claiming that her party was not against Muslims, BJP leader Sushma Swaraj has said it was against reservation to the community as it was an attempt to divide the country.

“Our party is not against Muslims. We are against the attempt to divide the country in the name of reservation,” Swaraj told an election meeting in Banda on Thursday.

She said BJP also objected to the mentality that opposes citing of Vande Mataram and cheers for Pakistan during India-Pakistan cricket match.

Holding Congress responsible for the steep price-rise, Swaraj said inflation was bound to rise as a Congress minister committed scam of Rs 1.76 lakh crore.

Taking a dig at Mayawati, the BJP leader alleged that BSP had nothing to do with the common man as over Rs 600 crore alone was spent on installing statues of elephants and Mayawati.

“Had this amount been spent on the welfare of people, the face of the state would have changed,” the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha said.