Ambedkar Nagar, Aug 8 (IANS) Uttar Pradesh Cabinet Minister Om Prakash Rajbhar on Saturday slammed the Congress over party leader Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Chhatron’ Ki Goonj’ programme in Prayagraj, questioning the turnout at the event and the party’s political influence in Uttar Pradesh.
Speaking to IANS, Rajbhar said preparations for the rally had been underway for nearly three months. He claimed that efforts were made to mobilise people from 23 districts and that Congress had spoken of registrations involving around three lakh people. Despite spending heavily on tents, hoardings and posters, he claimed that only around 5,000 people were visible at the venue.
Rajbhar said the turnout should give Rahul Gandhi an indication of Congress’ actual political position in Uttar Pradesh.
He also questioned Congress’ focus on issues concerning students and youth, saying its leaders should first understand the schemes and existing systems implemented by the Uttar Pradesh government.
Rajbhar claimed that under the state’s Mukhyamantri Yuva Udyami Yojana, young people are being provided loans without collateral or interest. He said the scheme aims to benefit five lakh young people, with more than two lakh already having benefited.
On allegations concerning paper leaks and examination irregularities, Rajbhar targeted Rahul Gandhi and referred to the previous Samajwadi Party government.
He alleged that during that period, complaints of examination papers being sold and cheating in competitive examinations were common.
He claimed that some candidates would take question papers to fields to prepare answers, while others allegedly took papers home, solved them and submitted them the following morning.
Rajbhar also alleged that candidates from other states used to come to Uttar Pradesh in large numbers and that money was sometimes demanded to facilitate cheating.
He advised Rahul Gandhi to examine the record of governments run by his political allies before raising questions about paper leaks and the examination system.
Referring to government recruitment under the Yogi Adityanath administration, Rajbhar claimed that more than nine lakh government jobs had been provided during its tenure and alleged that there was no scope for monetary transactions in the recruitment process.
He contrasted this with previous SP and Congress governments, alleging that complaints of money influencing government appointments were common.
Rajbhar also took a swipe at Congress’ organisational strength in Uttar Pradesh. He said the state Congress president and in-charge had earlier claimed that the party would win a large number of seats, but the turnout at Rahul Gandhi’s Prayagraj rally could indicate its grassroots support.
–IANS
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