Opp. spreading lies over land bill: Modi
Shah to Congress: Find Rahul first
Countering attacks from Opposition parties, including the Congress, on the controversial Land Acquisition Bill, Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused them of spreading lies in seeking to draw political mileage and said his government empathised with the farmers and was committed to empowering them.
“Those spreading lies do not know how to protect the interests of farmers,” said Mr Modi at a public meeting at the National College Grounds in Bengaluru, where a two- day BJP National Executive meeting is underway, but made no direct reference to the land bill which has emerged as a rallying point for the Opposition to target his government. “How did farmers lose their land? Where did it go? ... To get a job of a peon for their children or to make them a driver, they were compelled to sell their land to pay bribes,” Mr Modi said Friday, the day his govern- ment re- promulgated the Land Acquisition Ordinance a day before it was to lapse.
BJP president Amit Shah, for his part, took a dig at Congress vice- president Rahul Gandhi. “Instead of raising non- issues and fic- tional issues, they should find out where their leader is,” Mr Shah said at the national executive. On Bihar, Mr Shah said, “After the separation what has happened is that Jungle Raj- 2 has returned to Bihar. This is Jungle Raj- 2 and therefore the people of Bihar are very angry and upset. They want a new government, led by the BJP.” On empowerment of farm--
BJP chief sets sights on Bihar, calls for end to Jungle Raj- 2
- ers, the PM said, “I have not come from the heavens. I have lived among villagers and poor people and have reached here... I know that India will not make progress till villages develop and till farmers make progress.”
The PM questioned the previous government’s commitment in implementing welfare schemes, programmes meant for farmers and making coal block allotments. “In my 10 months of governance, I can say that there is no reason for this country to be backward. If our morals are right, then the decisions will be right and the results also will be right. Along with policies, we need the moral strength to implement them,” he said.
“I was surprised that the programmes announced in 2011 ( by the Congress) were not implemented even in 2014. The Opposition made a huge noise about bringing back black money to the country, which is our election promise. When Mr Jaitley made his Budget speech and informed us about the progress the SIT made in this regard, and about initiatives to ensure no one dares send black money out of the country, they fell silent.”
Reiterating his favourite “Make in India” slogan, Mr Modi said that during his programme at the RBI on Thursday he had asked the bank to use Indian- made paper to manufacture currency.
The rally was attended by the BJP brass, including party president Amit Shah, veteran L. K. Advani and Union home minister Rajnath Singh, besides other Cabinet ministers and chief ministers of partyruled states.
Mr Modi appealed to the affluent class to give up their LPG subsidy so that the government could transfer resources to the poor and needy. “It was just a thought and I told a couple of my friends. Now, over two lakh people have voluntarily given up subsidy, which is saving ` 100 crore for the government. This money will be transferred to the poor,” he added.