The phase – 4 polling of the Uttar Pradesh state assembly election concluded on February 23, with nine districts facing it. Ahead of the polling, Sonia Gandhi, the president of the Indian National Congress, appeared in her maiden address to the public. Her address took place in the form of a virtual event. She talked about topics ranging from the future of Uttar Pradesh to the issues surrounding her constituency, Raebareli, which went to polling in phase 4 of the election. She also lashed out against Narendra Modi and the BJP, accusing them of dividing the country for their political gain.
Key points of her address
Sonia Gandhi launched an all-out attack against the BJP, bringing up relevant political and socio-economic issues such as farmers’ protests, employment and COVID- 19. While talking about the “double-engine” government, she addressed it as nothing but a “Modi-Yogi” government. Gandhi blamed it for doing nothing but creating further separation among the population of Uttar Pradesh.
Addressing the farmers, she said, “Farmers grow crops with a lot of hard work. You neither got paid nor received fertilizers, not even irrigation facilities”. She also accused the Yogi government of not creating more jobs for the youth. According to her, it has led to the festering unemployment problem in the state. Further, she blamed the government for increasing the prices of essential everyday commodities such as petrol, diesel, LPG and mustard oil.
Next, she discussed the small to medium business owners saying, “During the lockdown, your business was closed. You suffered the pain of walking for miles. But Modi-Yogi govt acted irresponsibly and turned their faces away from you and closed their eyes, despite your pain. The government did not provide you with any relief”.
She claimed that the Congress party had tried to introduce many schemes and policies for the welfare of the people and the development of the Rae Bareli constituency. Still, the BJP government under Modi and Yogi sabotaged them all by banning them or adding unnecessary hurdles. Rae Bareli consists of five assembly seats: Rae Bareli (Sadar), Harchandpur, Bachchrawan, Sareni and Unchahar. She claimed that step-motherly treatment was meted out to Rae Bareli.
The politics of Congress is based on the service of the people and fighting for the people’s rights, added Gandhi. She also pointed out how 8,000 party workers were put in jail in the state over the past five years while trying to help out the people. Congress seemingly faces a stiff challenge in the constituency as both its candidates, namely Aditi Singh and Ashok Singh, have defected and are now contesting for the BJP. However, Sonia urged the voters to have faith in the party’s vision and ensure the victory of all its candidates in the constituency by clicking on the Hand button on the EVM ballot.
