Rahul says PM Modi has 'silently killed' Food Park Bill

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday launched a direct attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying that the Food Park Bill has been 'silently' killed by the latter's government.

"The Prime Minister said that he does not believe in 'badle ki rajneeti' but the Food Park Bill has been silently killed by his government. However, we will give them some more time and see what they do. Whatever is happening is not hidden from anyone, either the project will be accepted or rejected," said Gandhi.

"In Amethi, the food park is an opportunity for farmers to directly sell their produce and make better money. This was bad for the farmers, labourers and also for credibility of the prime minister who had said he is going to practice a particular type of politics," he added.

Earlier in the day, the Congress vice president said plans to scrap the food park in Amethi was indicative of the government practicing a 'politics of revenge'.

"Last year, during elections, the Prime Minister came to Amethi, spoke for about 52 minutes. In the Prime Minister's speech, I liked one thing where he said 'Main Badle Ki Rajneeti Nahi, Badlav Ki Rajniti Karunga'. The Prime Minister promised a politics of change, not revenge, but that's exactly what's happened in Amethi," Rahul said in the Lok Sabha.

He urged the government not to close the Amethi food park, which he claimed would bring about a massive change in the lives of farmers and also recounted his meeting with a farmer some years ago, who expressed surprise over the cost of chips sold in the market.