Gorakhpur (Uttar Pradesh), May 24 (IANS) Accusing the  United Progressive Alliance (UPA) of ignoring farmers’ rights, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Nitin Gadkari Tuesday alleged that the sympathy shown by Congress president Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul Gandhi towards farmers was meant for "political gains" only.

 
 "Today Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi are talking about farmers’ interests. I want to ask them why they are now so concerned about the farmers. Where the two have been till now?" asked Gadkari at the party's "Mahasangram" public rally in this eastern Uttar Pradesh district, 300 km from Lucknow.
 
 "They (Sonia and Rahul) rested for several years, and now suddenly are talking about supporting the farmers just because the state assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh are nearing... it is all meant only for political interests and gains," he said.
 
 Drawing a similarity between the Congress-led UPA and Uttar Pradesh’s ruling Bahujan Samaj Party, Gadkari said: "Both the governments are indulging in corrupt practices and unfair means for vested interests. The two governments have failed to perform as per the expectations of the public."
 
 "The time has come we should get united against the Congress and the BSP for their anti-people policies, and make every effort to bring the BJP in power in Uttar Pradesh."
 
 "Be it issues pertaining to farmers, rural development, creating avenues for unemployed youths or setting up of industries, the central and the state governments have failed to address such important challenges before the country. We just don't want to come in power... we want to change the destiny of Uttar Pradesh and take the country towards self-reliance and prosperity. Good governance and development is our mission," Gadkari said.