Rahul pledges for uplift of poor; flays Maya over development

Allahabad, Aug 28 (UNI) While pledging to devote his entire life for the uplift of poor and suppressed classes, AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi lambasted the BSP government for crushing the voice of youth by arresting NSUI activists, who were agitating for Student's Union election at the Allahabad varsity here.

Addressing a public rally at the K P College ground here, Mr Gandhi said it was very sad that the Allahabad University, which is known as the ''Cambridge of the east'', students were sent behind the bars for their genuine demands of student union poll. Mr Gandhi also indirectly attacked the Mayawati government saying although the Centre sanctioned big funds to Uttar Pradesh for several developmental programmes like, poverty eradication, mid-day meal, rural employment and others, the state shows no improvement.

He further said the funds reached the capital city, but not reach the poor and needy.

Whatever the reason be for Uttar Pradesh lagging in the development race, the country could not be called developed excluding the state, thus steps should be taken to develop it.

Expressing happiness over his visit to the city, he said ''Allahabad is an old home of my family and I always felt delighted visiting the city.'' Remembering his ancesters and leaders of that era, the Congress general secretary said, ''The prime difference between the leaders of those days and today, including me, is they used to mingle well with people, whereas, we maintain a distance.'' They had worked at the grass-root level and fought for the rights of the poor and under-privileged and on need, had even sacrificed their lives for the country, he asserted.

Narrating the saga of the old-day heroes, he took the oath to devote his entire life for the uplift of the poor and backward people and said, ''I would like to follow the path shown by my ancestors and work for the poor.'' MORE UNI MB PDM SBC KP1946