Rahul keeps off Modi,takes on Akhilesh

Says central funds sent to state disappeared.

Asking the people of Bundelkhand to dream big,Rahul Gandhi Wednesday spoke of how the Congress could bring about development like Rajasthan,Maharashtra and Karnataka in Uttar Pradesh if it came to power.

Addressing a public rally here,which,despite best efforts by social group Gulabi Gang and party MPs and MLAs,could not gather a crowd of more than 25,000,Rahul said: Jab tak UP mein Congress ki sarkar nahi ayegi,tab tak maza nahi ayega unless the Congress comes to power in UP,things would not be exciting.

The Congress vice-president avoided any mention of BJPs prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi,who had recently addressed a huge gathering in Jhansi and had dared him to name the Muzaffarnagar riot victims whom he had claimed to be in touch with the ISI. Instead,Rahul targeted the SP and its young Chief Minister.

In 2012,the SP came to power but you did not get what was promised. You did not get employment as was promised,did you? Gandhi asked the crowd.

Without naming Akhilesh Yadav,Rahul said: There is a young CM here,who could have changed UP. While your voices have reached Delhi,they have failed to reach Lucknow.

Alleging that the package sent to Bundelkhand from the Centre to the state disappeared before they could benefit people,he said: For the various problems of Bundelkhand,Delhi sent a Rs 3,000-crore package but the state government did not deliver it to you.

He asked the gathering to see the development in Rajasthan in spite of its water crisis. There is industrialisation and large-scale employment due to Delhi-Mumbai industrial corridor. The day Congress comes to power in UP,there will be development similar to Rajasthan,Maharastra and Karnataka, he said while citing example of how computer revolution has changed Bangalores economy.

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He also reminded people of the 2009 loan waiver where the government waived the farmers loan worth Rs 70,000 crore besides underscoring the employment guarantee scheme launched by the UPA.

You talk of railway connectivity with Delhi but I dream of connectivity with America,with the rest of the world. Your demands are small. Dream big. Ask for industrialisation in Bundelkhand, he said.

The rally was attended by Union Minister of State for Home R P N Singh and other senior party leaders from the state.