Rahul Gandhi accuses Mayawati of preventing Amethi, Rae Bareilly's development

Amethi, Apr 18 (ANI): Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi on Saturday criticized Mayawati-led Uttar Pradesh Government for drifting Amethi and Rae Bareilly away from development.

"When my father was the Member of Parliament from here, he used to work for Amethi with both the hands. But with the current State Government in UP, I have just one hand to work, as my other hand is tied. The State Government is trying to push back Amethi and Rae Bareilly from the track of development," Gandhi said while addressing an election rally here.

Gandhi also said he would concentrate his efforts to bring the Congress back to power in state.

"My efforts in the next three years (the time left for the current Bahujan Samaj Party government) will be to free my other hand too so that I can work with both hands for the development of the region," he added.

Gandhi recalled his family's relationship with Amethi, saying the place has decades long relationship with his family.

"Amethi is my family. I am not the only one from my family who has political relations with this place. This relationship was not started by me, but by my great grandfather Jawahar Lal Nehru, my grandmother Indira Gandhi and my father Rajiv Gandhi. I am just trying to carry it forward," Gandhi added.

The Congress leader also shared his experiences when he used to visit Amethi with his father.

"I remember when I was a 12-year-old kid and visited a village with my father Rajiv Gandhi in Amethi. We went to a village that was completely charred by fire. I wandered inside a completely burned house and found an old lady sitting amidst her damaged belongings. I was surprised when she got up, hugged me and gave me a sweet. That was the day when I decided to dedicate myself for the development of this region," he added.

Amethi will go to polls on April 23. (ANI)