Rahul Gandhi pulls up opponents in UP for dividing people

Muzaffarnagar, Feb 22 (ANI): With Uttar Pradesh gearing up for the fifth phase of assembly polls, Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday lashed out at his opponent for playing the politics of divide and rule to garner support of the voters.

Addressing a mass rally in Uttar Pradesh's Muzaffarnagar District, he said: "Rest of the parties play politics of divide and rule in Uttar Pradesh. They make people of different castes and religion fight amongst each other. Then they rule and this is what is going on in the state for 22 years."

Gandhi also criticized Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Mulayam Singh Yadav for using Muslims of the state only as a vote bank and doing nothing for their development or benefit.

"Mulayam Singh Yadav claims to be a leader of the Muslims. I don't think so. You tell me what has he done for the Muslims? He has been the chief minister of the state three times. He did nothing for them," said Gandhi.

"He neither made efforts to improve their education, neither worked for their development and neither worked for the welfare of the Muslim weavers. He just did one thing, gather votes and nothing else," he added.

Polling for the fifth phase of Uttar Pradesh assembly polls covering 49 seats spread over 13 districts would be held on Thursday.

The fate of several stalwarts, including Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Uma Bharati would be decided in this phase. Bharati, who is making her debut in Uttar Pradesh electoral politics, is contesting from Charkhari seat in Mahoba district.

The Uttar Pradesh polls are being viewed as an opportunity for major parties to re-establish their foothold in the country's fifth largest and most populous state.

A new 403-member state assembly will be elected in March. The poll results will broadly indicate trends for the 2014 general elections. (ANI)