UP misused funds for the poor: Rahul Gandhi

Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday launched his five-day “Jan Sampark Abhiyan” (public contact campaign) with a rally in Barabanki, about 25 km from Lucknow. The Gandhi scion lashed out at the Mayawati government for bungling of Central funds running into thousands of crores of rupees.

 Rahul accused the Mayawati government of corruption in Centrally government-sponsored schemes. “We send funds for development from Delhi but it doesn’t reach the people in Uttar Pradesh. Ministers, officials and contractors are pocketing this money,” he said.

 “Whether it is MNREGA, the Janani Suraksha Yojna or the loan waiver scheme, the common people are not getting the benefit,” Rahul said and added: “The UP chief minister says MNREGA is not needed as it does not benefit anyone. But the fact is that it is the most beneficial scheme for the poor.”

 “The state government is not playing a positive role in any of the Centre-sponsored schemes. It is really difficult for us to benefit the people these schemes are meant for until and unless there is a Congress government in UP, too,” the Congress leader said. “If you want things to change, you will have to change this corrupt government,” he added.