Hanumangarh: Gearing up to take on the government in Parliament, Rahul Gandhi on Thursday vowed that Congress will not allow the NDA government to acquire "even an inch of land" in the country as he stepped up his campaign on land bill issue with a foot-march in Rajasthan.
The Congress Vice President, who has reached out to farmers with 'padyatra' in various parts of the country including Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh in recent months ratcheting up the pressure on the Centre, also attacked the BJP governments over the issue of corruption.
"The Prime Minister said he won't allow corruption (na khaunga, na khane dunga). He never said that I will stay quiet," Rahul said raising the issues of Vyapam scam and Lalit Modi controversy. In Rajasthan, corruption was at Chief Minister's level, he alleged.
Accusing the NDA government of denying rights to the poor, farmers and tribals, Rahul said, "I want to assure you that Congress will not let the NDA government have a single inch of land. We will not let them move forward."
Rahul held a 'public hearing' in Khotawali village where farmers shared there grievances with him. He met veteran Congress leader Shyokaran Ram at his residence before commencing the eight-kilometre march accompanied by former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, State Congress Committee President Sachin Pilot and AICC General Secretary Gurudas Kamat.
The 8-km long 'padyatra' was slated to conclude at Amarsinghwala village where Rahul will interact with farmers. Rahul Gandhi had seized on the farmers' issues to attack the Narendra Modi government during the Budget Session, alleging that the "suit-boot ki sarkar" had neglected farmers and was only working for crony capitalists.
The Congress is opposing the government's Land Bill, rallying the opposition on the issue. The party has made it clear that it will not relent on it in the Monsoon Session of Parliament which starts on July 21.
The Congress Vice-President had earlier visited Punjab, Maharashtra and Telangana where he interacted with farmers and undertook padyatras. He had aggressively taken on the Modi Government inside and outside Parliament on the land bill issue and demand for relief to farmers hit by unseasonal rains.
Rahul alleged that the government was being run by big industrialists and was steeped in corruption. "Wherever there will be attempt to oppress the poor and farmers, Congress will be there to protect them. "You (poor and farmers) need not to worry. We will take up your issues and fight against BJP," Gandhi told a gathering
here commencing his padyatra. He said that NDA rule has given Lalit Modi controversy, Vyapam scam among other issues to his party.
"We never anticipated in our dreams that BJP will give us so many issues of corruption such as the issue of Lalit Modi in Rajasthan, Vyapam scam and also the tribals' land issue. Congress will stand like a wall wherever they will try to crush the poor. "Not only in Rajasthan but anywhere in India, Congress party will not let NDA grab even an inch of a farmer's land. Congress is party for farmers and poor. We will continue to fight for you," Rahul said.
Targeting Vasundhara Raje government in Rajasthan, he said that previous Congress government in the state had taken several public welfare measures that included free medicines scheme and they were being weakened after BJP came to power.
During their interaction with Rahul, locals raised the problems related to education, crop loans, drinking water and tribal rights.
Asked about his padyatra, Rahul said, "Like a soldier defends the country, sanitation workers keep the country clean, I am also a soldier for the poor. I am fighting against their oppression."
A large number of Congress and Seva Dal workers with flags accompanied Rahul during the padyatra.
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