No security for people in UP, says Rahul

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Rahul Gandhi during the foundation stone laying ceremony of a CRPF group centre in Amethi

Raising the issue of law and order in Uttar Pradesh where a spate of rape cases have been reported recently, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday alleged that there was no security for the common man in the state which was hampering its development.

"There are certain things lacking in UP including security. Rape cases are taking place in the state," Mr Rahul said after laying the foundation stone of a CRPF centre here.

On Monday Mr Rahul had visited three rape victims in Banda, Kanpur and Sultanpur districts, which had drawn criticism from the ruling BSP with state Parliamentary affairs minister Lalji Verma asking why the Congress leader "did not see similar incidents in other states".

Claiming that the environment for development was lacking in UP, Mr Rahul said he did not agree with the refrain that "people of the state do not work".

"I slightly differ, people in UP work, but certain things like security, industry, health and education are lacking and without them nothing much can be done," he said.

The Congress leader said that when people from UP go to Maharashtra and Delhi, they get an environment — health facilities, education and security- to work for development.

"Unless and until this kind of environment is created, UP cannot head forward rapidly. Our target is to provide such an environment to the people of the state," the AICC general secretary said.

Mr Rahul said that if this target is achieved, UP will lead the country in the future.