Our total focus is on eradication of poverty: Rahul Gandhi

Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi while interacting with the media in Ranchi said that he interacts and listens to common people because he wants to understand their problem. He said, “I go to poor people’s house, I go to universities, colleges and cities. I have talked to a police constable in this city; I want to understand their problem. Sitting at my house I can’t understand them.” He further said that the media and opposition have created discrimination that whenever I go to a poor man's house ; some people find it objectionable which I am unable to understand. In my view, they are not poor people; they are simply a human being for me who didn't get the opportunity.
Congress General Secretary said, “There is only one difference between the rich and the poor; and that difference is of getting opportunities. A rich person has got opportunity while a poor has not. So, I go to villages, universities and want to meet as much people as possible. I want to understand their problems.”

Speaking on the price rise of the commodities he said that state governments do have some role in it. “Sometimes it increases, sometimes it decreases and it is a cycle. The central government tries its best to provide a helping hand to the poor. Our biggest programme the Employment Guarantee Scheme provides 100-days employment to the poor. We have taken many steps in this direction; we waived the loan of farmers worth Rs 60,000 crores. So, ours is a government of aam aadmi. Our whole thought process, our ideology is for the aam aadmi; and we work for the aam aadmi.

Replying to a query of his revolutionary work plan whenever he becomes the Prime Minister, he said, “This is a hypothetical question. India has a very capable Prime Minister whose name is Dr Manmohan Singh. He is running the country very well.”

Talking on the corruption in NREGA programme he said, “Such type of statements are of sweeping nature; especially in a state having least corruption in this programme. You can look at Rajasthan, Andhtra Pradesh and other state, where this work is going smoothly. Though, there are states where this is not being run properly; but if you look at the overall picture it is running smoothly where the state government wants it to run. So, this depends upon state government. The role of central government is that; it designs the programme and sends fund for it. But the fact is that, NREGA has, for the first time, created a minimum wage in this country; it has created a floor and benefited millions.” He further said, “This programme is run properly where Congress governments are in power; because we have a focus on it. You go to the villages and ask the people which programme is benefiting them most.”

Congress General Secretary said, “I am in charge of Youth Congress... I can tell you that after our organizational elections, more and more people will find place in Parliament, state assemblies and especially in Panchayat bodies. I can tell it to you with a guarantee. We have experimented this in Pudicherry where in every village; there are 250 to 300 Youth Congress workers. We are going to repeat it in Jharkhand too. Our maximum focus is on Panchayats; our organization is designed in such a way that people from every background can find a place here.”

Responding to a query about the cancellation of his recent Arunachal Pradesh tour, he said, “My take on Arunachal Pradesh is exactly same as that on Jharkhand, or Uttar Pradesh or any other state of India. My attitude towards all Indian state is exactly the same. Arunachal is Indian state, Jharkhand is Indian state and Tamil Nadu is Indian state. Attitude of the Youth Congress is exactly the same about every Indian state, every single Panchayat, every single Vidhansabha and every single Lok Sabha.”

Congress General Secretary said, “We have focused on education and provided Mid-day meal for the children. The NREGA, Right to information and Unique Identity Cards are our other achievements. Now, anyone can ask a question to government regarding any scheme. So, our total focus is on eradication of poverty.”

Talking on the implementation of central schemes like NREGA, he said, “There are two things, I tell you. The central government designs the programme and arranges fund for it; but it is upto the state government whether they are interested in it or not. For example, we focused more on NREGA in Uttar Pradesh; we designed a large programme for the state. But the Uttar Pradesh CM Mayawatiji said that this programme is of no use; they will not run it. So in such a scenario, we don’t have much to do. It is being run smoothly where Congress is in power.”

Speaking on Naxalism he said, “There is concrete unanimity as far as the government is concerned on Naxalism. Naxalism has two issues, one which I have always stated; government in the states like Jharkhand, Orrisa and Chhattisgarh are not reaching to the people. That is one angle of the problem. The second angle of the problem is that; as the governments are not reaching to the people, it has turned into a law and order problem. So, if you want to analyze and assess Naxalism in my view, you have to look at these both front. You have to ensure that the government programmes reaches the people and you have to combat Naxalism as a law and order problem.”

Congress General Secretary said, “Not only in India but all over the world the scale of violence has increased; it has increased due to many things. Automatic weapons have become accessible and one can kill hundreds of people with these weapons. But if we look at India, the over all law and order situation is satisfactory. There are pockets like Jharkhand, Orrisa and Chhattisgarh, where governments are not reaching to people.
Second point is that; as I told in Himachal Pradesh, two Indias have been created. One India is yours and my India, the India of opportunity, education, health and employment and other is that of villages where opportunities are very rare. So, we have to focus on those parts of India and bridge the gap.”