Despite controversy by two Union Cabinet Ministers Salman Khurshid and Beni Prasad Verma over reservation to minorities, the party’s lust for Muslim voters continued when their ‘yuvraj’ claimed that the Congress is the only pro-Muslim party in the country and has done maximum for upliftment of the community.

Blaming Samajwadi Party for misguiding the minorities over different issues, Rahul Gandhi took on both Mulayam Singh Yadav and Mayawati. “I want to know what the Muslims got from Mulayam Singh Yadav in the last 22 years,” he asked while addressing rallies in Muzaffarnagar and later in Muslim-dominated Moradabad on Wednesday.

Claiming the Congress as the only pro-Muslim party in the country, party general secretary said the Sachar Committee was set up by his party to suggest ways and means for minority development. “The UPA Government at the Centre has also sent money for the minority welfare but the funds were misappropriated by the Mayawati Government in UP,” he charged adding, right from Sikkim to Kerala, the Central funds reached and used for welfare of minorities but in UP it was either misutilised by Samajwadi Party or eaten up by the BSP’s elephant.

Taking a dig further on the Opposition parties especially the SP, Rahul Gandhi said his party believed in performing unlike other parties which only indulged in making false promises. “These parties have been befooling the people of this wonderful State for 22 years by making false promises at the time of elections and doing nothing afterwards,” he said.

Accompanied by RLD general secretary Jayant Chaudhary and Congress MP Azharuddin, Rahul admitted he had no magic wand to transform the State overnight. “I do not believe in making tall promises and assure only what I think can be done,” he said while pointing out it will take some time to develop the State.

Congress general secretary said his heart bled at the plight of the people of UP who had to go to other States for their living. “I have seen people from UP working in Ladakh and Sikkim as well and when I asked them, they complained of lack of opportunities in their native State,” he said. He asked how long would it continue. The State has already suffered a lot under non-Congress Governments for 22 long years and the change is inevitable, he added.

Speaking on the occasion, another youth scion Jayant Chaudhary said that the RLD was contesting the Assembly poll in alliance with the Congress because it catered to all sections of the society. He appealed that this was the best chance to change the situation in the State and the Congress-RLD combine presented them the most viable option.