Govt trying to snatch farmers' land for corporate houses: Rahul

Congress leader calls Telangana CM 'mini-Modi' who has 'forgotten' the poor

In a blistering attack on Narendra Modi government, Rahul Gandhi today accused it of trying to snatch land from farmers for "crony capitalists" and also did not spare Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, calling him a "mini-Modi" who too has "forgotten" the poor.

The Congress Vice President, who undertook a 15-km 'padyatra' (foot march) through five villages in scorching heat and met families of farmers who committed suicide due to mounting debt in Adilabad district, hit out at the NDA Government for attempting to "dilute" the land acquisition Act passed by Congress-led UPA Government in 2013.

"Modiji and mini-Modiji claim to change India and Telangana, but they forgot the poor who actually transform the country," Rahul said, without naming Rao.

"If Modiji or the Chief Minister here meet farmers then I don't have to (worry about them)," he said.

Raising the land bill issue, he said, "If land is taken from you, it will be taken without asking you (for your consent). There will be no social audit."

"If no work starts even after five years, 10 years, 15 years and 50 years (of taking the land from farmers), you will not get your land back," said the Congress leader, referring to the Land Bill brought by the Modi Government that makes key changes in the 2013 Act.

It is worrying that the BJP-led Government, which is completing one year in office, is trying to push through the Bill with great speed, the 44-year-old Amethi MP said addressing a meeting of farmers at Wadial village before winding up his Padyatra.

The Government is not making use of thousands of acres of land lying unused in SEZs, but is attempting to take away land from farmers, he charged.

"I will tell you why this land is being taken. Because this land is gold. You and your children do not need anything else. They don't want you to keep the land. They want to give away the land to two-three industrialist friends," he said.

Training his guns on Modi over his monogrammed suit, Rahul said "Is there anyone here who wears a Rs 10 lakh suit? But, Modiji does," he said.

The NDA Government at the Centre as well the TRS Government led by K Chandrasekhar Rao in Telangana claim to work for 'Make in India' and providing jobs, Rahul said and asked if anyone in the gathering had got a job after the two Governments assumed office about a year ago.