PM paying back ‘loans’ of industrial friends: Rahul

Launching a scathing attack on the NDA government, Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday of being anti-poor and anti-farmer. Back after a nearly two month sabbatical, Gandhi addressed Congress’ mega farmer rally held at Ramlila Maidan in the Capital on a sultry Sunday afternoon.

Aggressively attacking Modi, Rahul accused him of working for the welfare of big industrialists and the rich. “Modi wants to give your land to industrialist friends from whom he took loans for his huge campaign. Through his Gujarat Model, Modi has showed us that he can snatch land from farmers very easily,” said the 44 year-old leader.

The Congress leadership looked emboldened seeing a reasonably good turnout of supporters at the historic Ramlila grounds, which has witnessed many political jamborees of various hues. Those present on the dais included Congress president Sonia Gandhi, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and former Defence Minister AK Antony. The leadership was welcomed by Delhi Congress president Ajay Maken.  

Gandhi said the Congress was with the farmers in their fight, while he recounted the various schemes and initiatives taken by the previous Congress led-UPA Government. “Congress will fight your battle and we will win. I will always stand along with you,” he said assuring farmers, in his first public address after the long leave. Emphasising the varied measures which the UPA government had implemented, Gandhi said, “When UPA was in power, it helped farmers in every possible way. UPA introduced schemes to save debt-ridden farmers. We increased the MSP of wheat from Rs 540 to Rs 1400. The UPA government waived Rs 70,000 crore of loans taken by farmers.” “We fought for your rights. It took us 2 years to make this Land Bill of 2013, the BJP supported and applauded the Bill then. Then what changed? Instead of passing it through Parliament, why did BJP bring in an Ordinance?” he said while questioning the way the BJP was resorting to get the Land Bill passed. 

Pointing out problems with the new proposed Land Bill, he said farmers won’t get jobs in exchange of their land. “BJP has finished the provisions of consent clause, social assessment and return of unused land. The government will snatch your land, and you won’t even get jobs. We don’t want our farmers to become labourers and servants. You should understand one thing, the land is yours, you treat it as your ‘Maa’, the price of it will increase more than gold in coming years.”

Gandhi criticised Modi’s ‘Make in India’ campaign, saying:”Make in India is only Modi’s dream and it won’t be successful.” He attacked Modi for also condemning the Opposition in Canada, “Modi went to foreign countries, he said he is wiping the garbage of 50 years. I felt very bad over it,” he added.