Rahul active in Congress UP activities: Khurshid

Allahabad, May 8: There is active involvement of Amethi MP Rahul Gandhi in activities of the Congress in Uttar Pradesh, party's state unit president Salman Khurshid said today.

''He is leading the party and will lead in future too,'' Mr Khurshid told reporters here.

''Although, Mr Gandhi is a national level leader, we will be happy if he devotes more time for UP.'' Mr Khurshid claimed Rahul was actively participating in all the Congress' programmes including review meetings and extending his full support.

''His involvement will certainly strengthen the Congress and encourage party workers.'' The Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee (UPCC) chief said the Samajwadi Party government in the state must go before the assembly elections.

He feared if elections were held under the Mulayam Singh Yadav regime, the SP government would certainly hijack the poll process.

''No one should expect fair and free polls under the Mulayam regime...the SP government will, however, fall on its own.'' Mr Khurshid alleged the UP government was misusing power and there was widespread anarchy.

''Criminals and mafias are moving freely. People are fed-up with the SP misrule and want a change.'' The Congress leader maintained in the next assembly polls, SP was going to taste its worst ever defeat and its dream of forming the next government would not materialise. ''BJP has also lost its base in UP and its leaders are a confused lot.''

Mr Khurshid observed that Congress president Sonia Gandhi by resigning her Rae Bareli Lok Sabha seat had set an example of ''morality in politics.'' ''Now, it becomes our duty to take this 'mission of sacrifice' forward. Ms Gandhi's sacrifice will certainly bring a political change in UP.'' He also claimed it was ironical on one hand that Mr Yadav had opened a front against Congress and Ms Gandhi and on the other, the CM was asking for her cooperation.

''Ignoring the false allegations of partiality levelled by the Mulayam regime on the Union Government, the Centre is extending all help to UP.'' When his attention was drawn towards power crisis in UP, Mr Khurshid said the crisis was ''man-made and not divine.'' ''Non-Congress governments are responsible for this sorry state of affairs. No power plant was established in UP after 1989, while the demand has increased alarmingly,'' he explained.

The Congress leader squarely put the blame on the present UP dispensation for the prevailing power crisis.

''The CM (Yadav) had promised that the state would be free from power cuts in two years. Where have all his assurances gone?'' He alleged that the state government only took steps to benefit Ambanis in power sector.

Meanwhile, Congress will undertake 'Jal jeevan, Jan jeevan' yatra from May 23 next from Lakhimpur Kheri.

The yatra would pass through the banks of Sharada and Ghagra rivers and conclude at Ballia.

During the yatra, party workers will organise meetings and 'chaupals' and acquaint people about the achievements of the central government, Congress' principles and plans.

UNI