Youths to carve out golden future for UP: Rahul

Lakhimpur/Barabanki, Apr 21: Making ''youth empowerment'' a poll plank, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi today reiterated that he visualised a golden future for the state in the hands of the younger generation.

''Youths from UP are already playing a vital role in the development of Punjab, Haryana, Maharashtra and Karnataka. The time has come for them to essay a major role in their state also,'' Mr Gandhi told poll meetings in Lakhimpur Kheri and Barabanki districts.

Exorting youths to actively participate in development of the state, he said, ''I am not in UP to only campaign for the Congress...I am in the state to constantly fight for the development of all.'' ''I regret your energies have not been utilised properly in the development of the state. The Congress does not make hollow promises. It is concerned about increasing the representation of youths in the state's development. Therefore, it has given tickets to a large number of youth candidates,'' Mr Gandhi added.

He said it was unfortunate that successive governments in UP in the last 15 years had tied the hands of youths from developing the state despite the fact that they represented 60 per cent of its population.

''The non-Congress governments have only cases of loot, murders and rapes to present to people. They are constantly engaged in dividing UP in the name of religion and caste. They have always ditched people,'' the Amethi MP said.

Flaying the Mulayam Singh Yadav regime, he claimed that the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre never meted out step-motherly treatment to UP as alleged by the Chief Minister. ''In fact, the Centre has provided development funds worth crores of rupees to the state....sadly, the funds were either misused or not used at all.'' Expressing concern over the ''dismal'' performance of UP in all spheres of development, the Congress star campaigner urged support for his party to expedite the process of development and growth.

UNI