Rahul selling big dreams to people of UP, says BJP

The Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday attacked Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi, saying he was selling big dreams to the people of Uttar Pradesh while the United Progressive Alliance at the Centre had failed to alleviate the sufferings of the poor.

"UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi had said recently that mere speeches are not going to remove corruption. Similarly, the condition in Uttar Pradesh is not going to change with speeches. Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi has spoken about the welfare of the poor while his party has been playing politics with them," BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain said.

He maintained that Congress had long back given the slogan of "garibi hatao (remove poverty)" but the number of those living below the poverty line has actually gone up during Congress rule.

"The price of petro products has been increased 24 times by this government. Sugar is selling at Rs 50 while pulses cost Rs 100 per kg," Hussain said.

"The money that could have helped in removing poverty was lost in the Rs 1.76 Lakh crore 2G spectrum scam. We will not sit quiet and want an answer," Hussain said.

On atrocities against the dalits of UP, BJP said Rahul Gandhi was silent on the oppression of dalits in Congress-ruled Haryana and the minority community in Gopalgarh, Rajasthan.

"Despite the atrocities against the minority community in Gopalgarh, the Rajasthan chief minister and home minister are continuing in office," Hussain said.

The party charged that nobody -- from the common man to the industrialists -- was happy with UPA rule.

Insisting that Congress, Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party were allies at the Centre and were merely engaged in a "mock fight" in Uttar Pradesh, the BJP MP said the people were now looking at BJP as their new hope.

The BJP was also miffed at Rahul Gandhi's comments that the people of UP had to beg in Maharashtra.

"How many times has Rahul Gandhi gone to Maharashtra and where in Maharashtra has he seen a person from UP begging? This is an insult to the people of UP and Bihar," Hussain said.

Hussain, who is a Lok Sabha MP from Bihar, said he had never seen a person from his state or neighbouring UP begging in Maharashtra.

"Rahul Gandhi has hurt the sentiments of the people of UP," he said.