Thousands turn up in Meerut for Rahul ji's Rally

Shri Jayant Chowdhury, Shri Rahul Gandhi ji, Shri Ajit Singh, Shri Rasheed Masood and Shri Dig Vijaya Singh ji

at a Rally in Meerut

This first massive rally of Congress - RLD Allaince was held ahead of the elections in the Uttar Pradesh that begin on February 8 though this western Uttar Pradesh area goes to the polls only on February 28.

The atmosphere was jubiliant and the entire Meerut city was wearing a festive look. The boys, the girls, the ladies, the men and the elders were all equally excited to have a glimpse of their beloved and the favourite leader and the youth Icon Rahul ji.  As Rahul ji alongwith Shri Dig Vijaya Singh ji, Shri Ajit Singh ji, Shri Rasheed Masood ji, Shri Jayant Chowdhury ji  entered the venue, the thousands of men, women and children packed into Ram Leela Grounds knew no bounds of joy and were seen dancing and waving flags to welcome Rahul ji. There was a sea of humanity wherever my eyes could see. There were people standing on the roof tops dancing and waving flags when the election song of the Congress, Uthoo, jaago, badlo Uttar Pradesh! (Arise, awaken and change Uttar Pradesh), sung to the tune of Jai Ho, was played. They were seeing a hope in Rahul ji. They had gathered to take a vow to oust the Mayawati government. I have heard the youngsters discussing when the arrival of Rahul ji in Meerut can bring so much of joy, then imagine the joy the congress would bring into the state when voted into power.

Rahul ji in his speech said that "We are not giving you any unrealistic promises. The only promise is that we will listen to you, as the UPA governments led by Manmohan Singhji and [UPA chairperson] Soniaji did,".   Rahul Gandhi ji said Congress-led governments had implemented several pro-poor programmes such as the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act and the UID project. And so it was re-elected in 2009.  He said in his speech that the Mayawati's government has become infamous for corruption, oppressing farmers and misusing central government funds. He said that Mulayam Singh Yadav is no better  and criticised him for making unrealistic promises like free electricity.  He said "If you ask Mulayam singh ji to change the blue skies to green, he will readily promise that too."

Shri Dig Vijaya singh ji said that the people of UP now want a change and they are fed up with the corrput regime of Mayawati. He has justified the 4.5% quota for the minoties and said that after the elections, the congress would make it 9%.

Ajit Singh ji praising Rahul Gandhi ji,  said young leaders like him were pursuing an agenda of development.  RLD leader Ajit Singh ji supported job quotas for Jats and backward Muslims, calling it "social justice".

I was talking to the people from different walks of life in the Meerut city and the rural areas. They are all fed up with the politics of Mayawati and Mulayam isngh Yadav. For the last 22 years, the Uttar Pradesh and the people of Uttar Pradesh have been deprived of the progress and the development and an AAM AADMI had been suffering for the basic necessities of life. They have been used as the vote bank based on the caste and the religion for the last 22 years. They now want the CHANGE and they beleive that it is only the CONGRESS with the devotion of Rahul Gandhi ji and under the dynamic and the sincere leadership of Sonia Gandhi ji and Manmohan Singh ji will make them realise their dreams, the dreams of a better UP, the dreams of a developed UP, the dreams of a propsperous UP.