“In UP, MNREGA does not work because the elephant here eats up all the money. Normally, elephants eat grass but the magic elephant in UP actually eats currency and this currency belongs to neither the UPA government nor the UP government — it belongs to you,” said Congress MP Rahul Gandhi while addressing a rally in Badaun on Wednesday.
The Congress leader, who has been hammering on the corruption issue in UP in all his public interactions, took his battle to the next level when he directly accused the elephant (BSP symbol) of blatant corruption.
Mr Gandhi, in his speech, said that leaders like Mulayam Singh Yadav and Mayawati were more concerned about their caste issues than about the welfare of the people.
“You have trusted these people for 20 years — now give five years to the Congress. Vote for a government that will give you roads, power, water and all-round progress. Vote for a government that talks of development and not just caste and religion,” he said.
Speaking in an area considered to be a SP bastion, Mr Gandhi said that the UPA government had set up a ministry for minorities and was now bringing the food security bill as well as the Lokpal bill.