Land Bill: Rahul's claims 'baseless', should do 'homework', says BJP

BJP today hit back at Rahul Gandhi for his attack on the Narendra Modi government over the land Ordinance, saying he should do his homework and not make "wild" and "baseless" allegations as it was Congress that had played "havoc" with the poor with its "garibi hatao" slogan.

Seeking to turn the tables on the opposition party, BJP asked Rahul to first explain the "politics of money over bodies" in Congress-ruled Uttarakhand in the wake of allegations of swindling of funds meant for the victims of the natural calamity that struck the hill state in 2013.

"Rahul should first give an account of the corruption by Uttarakhand government. We condemn his statement. The Modi government is working for farmers' interests and is committed to rural development.

"Rahul does not do any homework and the making of baseless allegations has become a part of his politics. His allegations on the land Bill are misleading and false. I condemn it," said Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad.

Defending the Union Cabinet's recommendation today for the re-promulgation of the land Ordinance, Prasad said it was being done to protect farmers' interests.

"Had the Ordinance not been extended, because it is awaiting a joint Session (of Parliament), the farmer would not have got the four-time compensation in the case of highways and even in the case of Prime Minister's Gram Sadak Yojna," he said.

Attacking Congress for failing to remove poverty in the country despite being in power for over 58 years, he said that Rahul and Sonia Gandhi's party had "played havoc" with their "garibi hatao" slogan.

"India remained poor. The farmer's plight became even more and more cancerous. And they are today talking of farmers' interests," he questioned.

Making wild allegations without doing any homework is not right, said Prasad even as he demanded that Rahul should first explain what is happening in Uttarakhand.

"Even in cases of natural calamities, what happened in Kedarnath... According to media reports, unfortunately politics of money is being done even on bodies in Uttarakhand.

"That is condemnable, reprehensible and Mr Rahul Gandhi's silence is indeed eloquent. I would only tell Mr Rahul Gandhi, please do some homework, stop making wild baseless allegations," he said.

Rahul made a blistering attack on Modi, accusing him of being in an "amazing hurry" to "grab" land from poor farmers by deciding to repromulgate the land Ordinance for a third time.

"Modiji in an amazing hurry to grab land from poor farmers at any cost. A 3rd attempt at pushing the anti farmer Land Ordinance!

"Congress Party will continue to fight for the rights of the kisan and mazdoor against this #suitbootkisarkar", the Congress Vice President said in a series of tweets.

Meanwhile, referring to the allegations of misuse of relief funds in Uttarakhand, BJP national spokesperson Anil Baluni said, "The scam is one of the worst in history. When the people of Uttarakhand were battling for their lives, the government was enjoying and having a party, ministers were zipping around in helicopters and taking selfies.

"When Rahul Gandhi had gone to Uttarakhand, he lauded the government's role and said they were doing a good job during the disaster.

"After the scam has surfaced, BJP questions Rahul Gandhi as to whether this is the good work he was talking about. He should reply on what the Uttarakhand government has done.

"Harish Rawat (Uttarakhand Chief Minister) and Vijay Bahuguna (Rawat's predecessor) are both responsible and the public wants a reply as to where the money donated by the Centre and the corporates has gone," said Baluni.