UP must not choose those who spread only hatred: Rahul attacks BJP

Basti: Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Friday said the people of Uttar Pradesh need to elect a government that will give jobs and works for the benefit of farmers.

"Let's build a new Uttar Pradesh and elect a government for the youth, farmers and the poor, instead of those who spread only hatred. We never bargain with farmers, we only work for farmers," Rahul said at a Congress rally in Basti.

Uttar Pradesh, he said, faces two major issues, one is unemployment and the other is the farmers' future.

"If you go anywhere in Uttar Pradesh and ask any youth what he/she does, 90 per cent would say 'nothing, we do not have jobs here'," Gandhi said.

"This state feeds the entire nation, but the one who works hard all day long is not able to sleep as he has an uncertain future," he added.

"Unless these two major issues are resolved, the state will not progress," he said.

Describing Uttar Pradesh as a very powerful state with sufficient water, fertile land and an intelligent populace, he asked "why people from here are going to Maharashtra, Punjab and other metro cities in search of jobs?"

He further said that every district of Uttar Pradesh is very special.

"Kannauj is well known for its perfume across the world, Jhansi's handicraft, Mirzapur's carpets, Barabanki's peppermint, Bareily's bamboo work, Allahabad's guava, Firozabad's glass work and Amethi's tomatoes. Every district produces something special, but still people do not get jobs and neither are the farmers satisfied," he asserted.

"My dream is to make Uttar Pradesh the world's sole factory," he said.

Gandhi was speaking a day after the conclusion of the fourth phase of the seven-phased state assembly elections, which had a voter turnout of 61 percent.

The fifth phase of elections will take place on February 27.