Saharanpur: Rahul Gandhi on Monday took potshots at Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his foreign trips, saying while the PM was busy flying abroad Congress stood with farmers and labourers even as he launched a 'padayatra' to highlight the plight of sugarcane farmers in Uttar Pradesh.
He also took a dig at Modi's 'achche din' slogan, asking where have those promised good days gone, saying Congress good days will come once farmers, labourers and the poor felt good.
"When Narendra Modi is flying to England, Rahul Gandhi is standing here amongst you in your fields. I want to tell you that we are with you. Congress is standing with you and will die and keep standing with you," he said, addressing the farmers ahead of starting his 'padayatra'.
Rahul, who was seen standing next to controversial Congress MLA Imran Masood, who was jailed in March last year for his hate speech against Modi, said, "We don't want such an India where the poor, farmers and oppressed are unhappy. We don't want a suit-buit government. We want that India should be of the poor, labourers and small people."
Taking a dig at the Prime Minister, he said, "When Lok Sabha elections were held a lot of people supported Narendra Modi. He claimed that he will change India. He does not even remember his own slogan of 'achche din ayenge'. When we talk of 'achche din' people laugh across the country. Where are those good days?".
"He travels abroad, flies to London, Singapore, America, but good days have not come. In India, 'achche din' will only come when farmers, labourers, poor, dalits, tribals will have good days. Only then will good days come for Congress," he said.
Talking about Uttar Pradesh, he asked chief minister Akhilesh Yadav to come forward and keep up to his promise of bringing a change in the state by resolving the farmers' issue of their pending payments of sugarcane and restarting the sugar mills.
"Akhilesh Yadavji, you claimed to belong to the new generation and promised to change Uttar Pradesh. You still have one-and-a-half years time to change Uttar Pradesh. Go amidst farmers and resolve the sugarcane issue, give money to farmers, start the shut sugar mills and provide jobs to youth," he said.
The Congress vice president also highlighted how the farmers were not welcome in banks that laid a red carpet for the rich and how the Congress-led UPA waived off Rs 70,000 of farmers' loans.
He said the government launched the world's biggest job scheme in MNREGA that provided guaranteed jobs to the poor and gave crores of money in the hands of the poor.
Rahul said he saw India's power and knowledge in the hands of farmers, labourers and the poor unlike his opponents who did not want to talk to them.
"I see strength in you. I see India's energy in you people, India's innovation and its knowledge in you. I feel I should talk to farmers, labourers, unemployed youth, women and understand from them what needs to be done for India and how to move forward," he said addressing the farmers.
Taking on Akhilesh Yadav, he said, he still has a year and a half to bring development and usher in progress in Uttar Pradesh by working in a new way.
Seeking good education facilities and job opportunities, he hoped a day would come when youth from other states come to the state to seek education and employment opportunities.
"I want to tell Akhilesh Yadav that as Uttar Pradesh chief minister, you have a big position. You can fight for farmers, you can open factories. You have this power, but this power is not in my hands today. Uttar Pradesh youth need change, the state needs progress and you should run a government in a new manner. Change what you did in three-and-a-half years and work in a new way."
"Because all states have moved forward, but UP has remained there. Fight for farmers, open sugar mills and give money to farmers and start work on providing employment to youth," he
said.
