'Modi snuffed out NREGA, Land Act'

HYDERABAD: Continuing his tirade against Narendra Modi in the Rafale aircraft deal, Rahul Gandhi said the Prime Minister has insulted every citizen of India. "Modi has insulted every man, woman, grandparents, ancestors, farmers, labourers, SCs and STs by claiming in his speech from Red Fort that India was sleeping before he became the PM. The elephant was sleeping, farmer was sleeping, youth were sleeping and labourers were sleeping before he took over as PM," the AICC president said while addressing a gathering in Old City here on Saturday.

Rahul said Modi has snatched MNREGS from the poor and also snatched the land of farmers and the poor by allowing state governments to dilute the Land Acquisition Act. "Modi tried to do away with the Land Acquisition Act at the national level but Congress did not allow him to do. After failing in his efforts, he asked state governments to frame their own rules and K Chandrasekhar Rao did the same in the state," he said.

He said the rights of STs is being denied and promised the people that Congress would implement the Forests Rights Act for STs and Land Acquisition Act for the benfit of farmers and common man.

Referring to Modi's statement that Congress has done nothing for the poor, Rahul said the Congress-led UPA has brought crores of poor above poverty line. Strongly objecting to the installation of RSS ideologue Savarkar's portrait in parliament, Rahul said Savarkar was not a 'veer' (brave) as he had sent a mercy petition to the British apologising for his participation in the freedom movement.

Rahul said Modi and hardliners are spreading communal hatred and trying to divide the country on religious lines.

"I never claimed that Congress made this country. This country was made by its people, its farmers and workers. Today, they are trying to crush you and it is our duty to protect you," Rahul said. The Congress president said he takes the names of all his opponents with respect. "I don't spread hatred. I speak to my enemies also with love. This is our real culture and this country will progress only when we move together," he said.