Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has blamed non-Congress parties that ruled Uttar Pradesh in the last 20 years responsible for its backwardness.

He raised several issues including fertilizer shortage, forceful land acquisition, improper and corrupt practices in implementation of welfare schemes and programmes initiated by the centre and poor infrastructure in the state in his five day long public contact campaign in eastern districts.

Concluding his campaign with addressing a meeting at Kushinagar, he said big industrial and business houses have not come to the state due to poor law and order situation and lack of proper electricity and infrastructure.

He alleged that non congress governments have not taken measures to address unemployment among youths.

He blamed the BSP government responsible for the non availability of fertilizers as it was failed to check its smuggling to neighbouring country Nepal on higher prices and its sale in black market.

He reiterated his allegations that Centre is sending funds for welfare programmes like MNREGA, Janani Surksha Yojna and Mid Day Meal schemes but they are not reaching to the common people because of corruption.

Referring to the issue of land acquisition he said that government will bring a New Land Acquisition Bill in current session of Parliament.

He alleged that Mayawati government has taken land from farmers forcibly to oblige big construction houses and colonizers.

He said when farmers opposed land acquisition they were facing bullets from the police.

Emphasising on a political change in Uttar Pradesh he criticised caste based politics and said that a government which belongs to all castes, religions and sections should come to power in UP.

AIR Lucknow correspondent reports that five day public contact campaign of Congress leader was initiated from Barabanki on Tuesday.

During his campaign Rahul Gandhi has addressed several meetings at Barabanki, Baharaich, Balrampur, Shravasti, Maharajganj, Siddharthanagar, Gorakhpur and Kushinagar districts.