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Journalism of Courage
The Uttar Pradesh Youth Congress has adopted the village Gajanpur in Amethi, where Priyanka Gandhi Vadra spent the last two days distributing relief material to 105 families affected in a fire. Party president Sonia Gandhi is expected to visit the village in the coming fortnight.
Local Congress leaders feel that Priyanka’s return yesterday to Amethi to again help out homeless villagers was a much-awaited answer to the apprehension of losing confidence in managing what has been the Gandhi citadel for years.
A fire had devastated houses of 105 families in the state, of which over 70 belong to Dalits. Now, the Youth Congress plans to spend over Rs 10 lakh in relief material for the affected families and also for providing them with food and shelter till their houses are restored.
The Uttar Pradesh Government had provided them with cheques of Rs 800, which many villagers said they would not be able to cash as they do not have bank accounts.
UPYC president Nadeem Ashraf Zaisi said: ‘‘Officials rushed to the village hours after Priyanka reached and offered from the side of the Government, cheques which were all payable only to account-holders in the bank. She requested them not to make a joke out of the incident and to help the people,’’ Zaisi said.
‘‘On the directions from Priyanka, the Youth Congress is going to adopt the village and provide the people with houses with tin sheds so that they do not burn again. We are also given them foodgrain, clothes and utensils,’’ he added.
On the fears following party debacle in Gauriganj, Zaisi said: ‘‘The party high command knew of the way the official machinery was being used in the election. As late as the last week of March we met Priyanka in Delhi and explained the ground situation here.’’
According to sources in the party, Priyanka had planned to come to the village earlier but was advised against it because of the security concerns arising out of the Mayawati rally on Monday in Lucknow.
