The Nehru-Gandhi family has for decades assumed that it has some kind of a regal right to rule over India. The Congress has also time and again claimed that it is only the Nehru-Gandhi family which has the right to rule India and no one else can lead the nation. Amethi has been in a way the epicentre/ stronghold of this dynasty. The Nehru-Gandhi family has occupied the Amethi constituency for almost 30 years out of last 38 years since 1980. However, while the Nehru-Gandhi family has prospered in terms of power and financial assets all this while, Amethi has suffered badly. In fact, in 2013 Sonia Gandhi became the 12th richest political leader in the world. However, despite being a “VIP constituency”, Amethi has remained in a miserable condition.
In a welcome development, Pindara Thakur village falling within the Amethi constituency is set to go digital. The village will have access to 206 government services at the click of a mouse. The village is going digital under the digital India programme of the government of India. It will be digitally linked to the rest of the world in a formal ceremony by Smriti Irani, the union textiles minister. It has been reported that residents of the Pindara Thakur village would be linked with WiFi chaupal and may use 2 GB free data for 15 days initially. Later on, the service could be provided to them at cheap rates. Irani is also going to inaugurate the
‘Digital India Banking Service’ at the head post office of Amethi to boost payment services in the post offices operating in the region.
It is ironical that while Rahul Gandhi who was elected by the people of Amethi is oblivious to the problems faced by people living in his constituency. And on the other hand, union minister Smriti Irani who had lost from Amethi is working hard for the upliftment of the people. Compare this with the Member of Parliament representing Amethi, Rahul Gandhi who is on a vacation most of the time. Rahul Gandhi won from the constituency at a time when the entire nation discarded the Congress. Smriti Irani had put up a brave fight against him in the Nehru-Gandhi stronghold. However, Rahul Gandhi has remained ungrateful and has done absolutely nothing for the people of Amethi, which still remains one of the most backward constituencies in Uttar Pradesh.
It seems that the focus of Smriti Irani’s campaign is to expose how Amethi has been reposing faith in the Gandhi family for decades but has only been met with betrayal. Despite losing the elections, Smriti Irani is working hard for the welfare for Amethi while Rahul Gandhi seems not at all bothered about his duties as an MP. This goes on to show who is truly concerned about the welfare of Amethi and who is only concerned with electoral matters.
Congress is being wiped out of many of its strongholds. There are states which had Congress governments for decades but it was thrown out suddenly when the electorate realised that they cannot prosper under the Congress. Given Rahul Gandhi’s irresponsible and condemnable conduct since 2014 Lok Sabha elections and the manner in which Smriti Irani is working for the constituency despite losing the previous elections, it is very much possible that the people of Amethi realise that Smriti Irani is the true leader and not Rahul Gandhi when the nation goes to polls next year.
