Mr Gandhi squarely blamed the state government for not allowing benefits of Centrally-sponsored schemes to filter down to beneficiaries and for refusing to recognise the needs of the poor. “We send the money, but the money does not go beyond Lucknow,” he said.
Addressing a rally at Ambedkar Nagar here, he said: “The Centre has sent schemes like NREGA for the poor and the jobless, but we find that even the job cards have not been made properly in Uttar Pradesh. If the state government had done so much for the poor and dalits — as it claims — then why are the youth migrating to Delhi and Mumbai? In Bundelkhand, a majority of the youth have left homes in search of livelihood. The state government does not want development in the true sense, but we will not rest till we have achieved our goals.”
Mr Gandhi avoided a direct confrontation with the state government when he chose to garland a portrait of Dr Ambedkar placed on the dais alongside a portrait of Mahatma Gandhi. He was earlier due to garland a statue of Dr Ambedkar at Ambedkar Nagar, but was denied permission — apparently as a BSP function was scheduled there at that time.
Amita Verma