PROOF: Sonia, Manmohan Singh gave themselves 5 years to electrify India, got 10, but still failed

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his explosive speech at Mysore on Tuesday, highlighted how the UPA government under Manmohan Singh had taken upon itself the responsibility of electrifying every village in India by 2009. However, that transformative feat only came to pass nine years later on April 28, 2018, as bulbs lit up Leisang in Manipur.

While there is ongoing scrutiny over the terminology being used, one thing's clear: the UPA under Manmohan Singh did not complete its goal, even after getting a full term after their original deadline expired.

When the scheme had been announced, Sonia Gandhi, the UPA and National Advisory Council chairperson, had on March 29, 2005, issued an official communication where she wrote the following:

"I am very happy to know that the 'Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyuyikaran Yojana' is being launched by the Ministry of Power. It is an initiative which will go a long way in realising the goal of providing access to electricity to all households by the year 2009.

This programme will speed up the development of our rural areas, generate vast opportunities for employment and contribute to more equitable growth. Harnessing science and technology for the benefit of our people was something dear to Rajivi. He would have been very happy with this programme.

I wish all those associated with the implementation of the programme success in this endeavour.

Signed,
Sonia Gandhi"

There is also a copy of then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh making the announcement of the scheme where he states his gratefulness to 'madam' for her presence and went on to play up Rajiv Gandhi's scientific temper, in a clear demonstration of just how big and meaningful a sheme it was at the time.

However, the task wasn't completed by 2009. It wasn't even completed by 2014 when the UPA was ousted. And it certainly wasn't completed in the other 50-odd years that the Congress was in 'power' but not powering India.