UP polls: Rahul Gandhi talks food security bill in Terai

LUCKNOW: Rahul Gandhi, in an election rally in Lakhimpur Kheri, highlighted the landmark bill for food security as he sought to woo the electorate dominated by the other backward classes and Muslims.

"We have resolved to provide 35 kg of foodgrain to each poor family. We are undertaking the biggest project of our government since we came to power in 2004. No one will remain hungry from now on," Gandhi declared on the second day of his tour to the state's Terai belt. Addressing a rally on Tuesday, Gandhi said he has seen labourers sweating through the day and then eating half a roti at night. "Is Mayawati even aware of this condition?" he asked, "Who is Mayawati fooling? They asked us where the money will come for such schemes. We showed them how to raise money to fund such schemes. There is no dearth of money."

The Congress had won seven parliamentary seats in 2009 in this region, making it the party's safest bet for the upcoming polls that will begin on February 4. The party hopes to gain from the separate reservation in jobs for Muslims and loan waiver for weavers announced by the centre recently.

Gandhi also touched upon the issue of land acquisition, which finds a resonance in this agriculturally rich region. "Bullets are fired on farmers whose land is taken away in Tappal and Bhatta Parsaul. A farmer once came and told me that when the powerful sell their assets they get market rates. But we poor are fired upon for only demanding the rates prevalent in the area," he said, referring to his visits through western Uttar Pradesh earlier this year when farmers were agitating against acquisition of land for building an expressway.

Though Gandhi left for Delhi to participate in the Lokpal debate in parliament after addressing the rallies in Lakhimpur Kheri, he is expected to return and continue with his five-day tour that began in Sitapur. He is scheduled to visit Shahjahanpur, Pilibhit and Bareilly during this tour. Hectic preparations are on to make a huge success the rally in the Muslim-dominated town of Saharanpur where his tour is scheduled to end.