‘BJP only winning ‘Kyoto’ seat in Uttar Pradesh this time’: Rahul Gandhi, Akhilesh Yadav discuss UP Lok Sabha polls

“Pradhan sansad ne sapna dikhaya tha Kashi ke logon ko. Kyoto bani ki nahi Kashi ke log tai karenge (The PM had shown the people of Varanasi a dream. Whether or not Kashi has turned into Kyoto, the people will decide,” Yadav said as the two leaders conversed, seated on the stage of a rally in Prayagraj.

Yadav took another dig at Modi and said, “Mann ki baat nahi chalegi, humare aapki baat, 140 crore logon ki baat aur samvidhaan ki baat hogi (Mann ki baat won’t work this time, our issues, the issues related to 140 crore people and the Constitution, only these will be discussed this time)”. Mann Ki Baat is Modi’s radio programme.

देश में बेरोजगारी, महंगाई और हिस्सेदारी सबसे बड़े मुद्दे हैं। ये हिंदुस्तान का आज और कल तय करेंगे।

इन मुद्दों पर INDIA के विजन को लेकर श्री @RahulGandhi और समाजवादी पार्टी अध्यक्ष श्री @yadavakhilesh के बीच बातचीत हुई।

📍 यूपी pic.twitter.com/P5rHw17mzx

— Congress (@INCIndia) May 19, 2024

The two were campaigning for the joint INDIA bloc candidate from the Allahabad seat, Congress’s Ujjawal Raman Singh.

While discussing the unemployment rate in the country, Gandhi made note of the ‘Pehli Naukri Pakki’ scheme, a crucial manifesto point of the Congress. “Through this scheme, every graduate will have the right to a job, excellent opportunities for training and Rs 1 lakh in their bank account,” Gandhi said.

He also quipped that UP has become “berozgari (unemployment) ka centre” under Modi.

Gandhi then asked Yadav about his father, former UP chief minister and SP founder Mulayam Singh. Yadav said “Netaji”, as Mulayam was called, “zameeni baaton se jude rahe (was connected to the ground reality).” He added that his father taught him to be aware of what’s happening on ground, and to struggle for the rights of the oppressed people.

Yadav further said that even though him and Gandhi had “ideological differences, our principles allowed us to stand together”. Gandhi agreed, and added that their partnership this time (the two were previously allies for the 2017 UP Assembly elections) was stronger this time. “Mujhe aise lag raha hai ki jaisa partnership hum mein ab hai, waise pehle nahi tha (I feel that the partnership that is between us now was not there earlier),” he said.

Circling back to attacking the BJP, Yadav said, “BJP ke logon ne naa keval hamari jaan ko khatra paida kiya hai, hamare samvidhaan ko aur loktantra ko bhi (BJP has not only created danger for our lives, it has also endangered our Constitution and democracy)”.

Gandhi agreed and added, “China has entered our lands, unemployment has risen, the adequate levels of production are not being met and extortion through central agencies like ED, CBI, etc is taking place.”

Stampede in Phulpur

Gandhi and Yadav on Sunday had to cancel a joint rally in Phulpur after their supporters broke through barricades and created chaos.

According to PTI, many Congress and SP supporters had arrived at the venue to attend the rally. When Yadav arrived at the venue, the crowd in front of the stage broke the barricades to reach the dais, creating a “stampede-like” situation.

Upon failing to calm the crowd, Gandhi and Yadav had to leave the stage, surrounded by their security staff. The campaign rally was organised in support of Amarnath Maurya, who is contesting on an SP ticket for the Phulpur Lok Sabha seat.