Cong corners Modi over reform programmes

Rahul says NDA projects harm farmers' interests

The Congress on Sunday accused the Modi government of trying to push controversial amendments to the land bill through backdoor and urged leaders to be vigilant.

Addressing a massive rally here, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi also took a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Make in India” initiative saying all the NDA government was interested in doing was “Take in India” – giving away what belongs to the farmers and the disadvantaged sections.

“I know Modi quite well. He does not say what he thinks. On the one hand, he declared that he would not tinker with the Congress’ land law, but on the other, he has asked his chief ministers to make the amendments,” Rahul said at the rally to celebrate the “successful agitation” of the Congress that forced the NDA government to drop its move to amend the land acquisition law enacted by the UPA.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi cautioned party leaders not to get carried away by the success as the battle has now shifted to the states. “The battle is not over yet. It has now moved to the states. We have to remain vigilant or else, the achievement of this historic agitation will go in vain and you will again face the prospect of being robbed off your land,” Sonia said.

The Congress had rallied all non-NDA opposition parties against the government’s move to amend the land acquisition law to make acquisition of land easier.

Sonia also launched a scathing attack on Modi for charging the Congress with being a stumbling block for the development of the country. “Can a party that fought for the country’s independence and built a modern India be an obstacle in development,” Sonia countered. The Congress had stalled the monsoon session of Parliament over issues such as “Lalitgate” and “Vyapam” and sent into tailspin the government’s plans to usher in economic reforms.

“The prime minister is blaming the Congress for his failures,” Sonia said, asserting that the Congress will stand in the way of the government if it continues to neglect the people of the country.