Trashing Mayawati government’s claim that it was working for the uplift of the Dalits and the poor, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi today alleged students from these sections were back-benchers in Uttar Pradesh.Charging that the future of children in UP was being “spoilt” for lack of education, Rahul promised to make all-out efforts to bring back a Congress government which would focus on education which is at the core of development.Addressing a function on social harmony here, he said “on my visits to Uttar Pradesh schools, I have found that the condition of Dalit students is very bad in government-run schools and these students are only confined to back benches”.“A similar pitiable condition was there when I visited today a Dalit brother who makes shoes and asked him as to what help he got from the government”, Rahul said adding this scene was common everywhere he visits-be it schools, industrial units or villages under the government which is said to be that of Dalits .Rahul, who earlier visited a slum of Dalits and interacted with women and children and had tea with them, said “their real future lies in education and this sector needs all the focus”.“Without good education a child cannot rise, cannot get employment and he would keep wandering all his life”, Rahul said and asked why with a government of Dalits in place Dalit children are found sitting in back benches.“In UP, the future of children is being spoiled for lack of education and the focus should be on their future by providing them enough educational opportunities”, he said.Rahul said development comes through education and he would make all-out efforts so that Congress can form the next Congress government in the state.Referring to allegations that Congress appoints its leaders from Delhi, Rahul cited the example of Punjab and Uttrakhand where youth congress and NSUI leaders were being chosen by workers and said the same pattern would be followed in UP.
