This is rural UP’s real issue; major topic of discussion in polls as well

LUCKNOW: The whole nation has been keenly watching the polls in Uttar Pradesh. The third phase of polls in the state will take place on Sunday. Numerous leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi were present for the election campaigns, which were full of promises and criticisms.

Meanwhile, the issues in the rural areas of Uttar Pradesh were also discussed. What are the real issues faced by the people in the rural areas of the state? An article on the issue, published in a national media, has been gaining wide attention. The author has written about what all things he understood over a 10 days’ travel through the state.

A clear influence of the hijab controversy was observed in the rural areas. The people in western UP were interested in news from Karnataka. But these are not their poll issues. Debates on law and order, development were seen in some places.

What does rural UP really care about?

As per the evaluations based on the rural areas of Rampur, Etawah, Mainpuri, Shahjahanpur, Bareilly and Kanpur Dehat, the real issue of the people is ‘the bull’. This will happen in other parts of Uttar Pradesh as well, assures the author.

“Of course we have all got jobs under this government. All of us have to stay up all night like owls and guard our fields against stray cattle’’, said a man from Karhal, the constituency from where Samajwadi chief Akhilesh Yadav is contesting.

“The government says it has given free ration to all. But it has not addressed the issue of stray cattle ruining our produce in the fields. So crops and produce worth thousands are destroyed. And the government wants us to celebrate a few rupees worth of free grain?" said a farmer.

How did cattle become a major poll issue in the rural UP?

It has to be inferred that the Samajwadi party is the major reason for the issue. “When we launched a campaign saying we will save farmers from ‘The Bull’, it was meant for humour and ridicule. This reflects the political ignorance towards the real problems of rural distress. It is very difficult to even drive or walk along the roads at night," said Juhie Singh of the Samajwadi Party.

While people protected the buffalo, the bull was raised for meat. Since the BJP came to power, people have been cautious of dealing in cattle. Arrests, rapes, murders are happening. Poor farmers cannot afford to feed the cattle. Hence, they are often released. The hungry cattle search for food and finally end up in fields, says the farmers.

The Yogi Adityanath government has tried to resolve the issue. But the administration’s response was to construct a temporary gaushala or shed and dump the animals there, said some locals. Reports suggest that many of the cattle are starving and are becoming weak due to lack of care.