I have grown up among the poor and understand farmers’ pain,” said Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing a public rally in which he focused on allaying the apprehensions of farmers on the land Acquisition Bill. Putting before the people the report card of the NDA regime, Modi highlighted his Government’s achievements and came down heavily on the critiques of his Government. Defending his Govern-ment’s land Acquisition Bill, the Prime Minister attacked Opposition for “spreading lies” that the Government is working against the interests of the farming community and promised a “second green revolution” in the country. “How did farmers lose their landIJ Where did it goIJ… To get a job of a peon for their children or to make them a driver, they used to be compelled to sell their land to pay bribes… The (previous) Governments compelled them to (sell land),” said the Prime Minister, who is here to attend BJP’s two-day National Executive meet.
“land records will be reformed so that farmers get back their land (which they lost). For this, we will launch a big campaign,” he said. The Prime Minister dwelt on the plight of the farmers on a day President Pranab Mukherjee gave his assent to the controversial land Acquisition Ordinance, which was reissued last week with amendments after the Government failed to pass it in Parliament. Taking a dig at the Congress, he said, “People launch campaigns for farmers just for politics, they don’t understand basic issues.”
The Congress has led a united Opposition against what it calls an “anti-farmer” Ordinance, which seeks to make land purchase easier for industry and to develop roads, ports and power stations, among other infrastructure projects. Addressing a huge gathering, Modi said the last ten months reversed the setbacks brought about by the Congress’ “poor governance”. “The weather is changing,” he said to loud cheers at the beginning of his speech. “In 10 months after coming to power, I can say that there is no reason why India should lag behind... there is no reason why India shouldn’t progress,” he said.
“The only criticism against us is that they (the Congress) had done this, they had thought of that. Sometimes niyat (intention) is more powerful than niti (policy). Your niyat was not right. Ours is right, so we will get the right results,” Modi said, adding, “Despair has vanished, hope is here.” Modi who addressed the rally in the presence of party patriarch lK Advani, national president Amit Shah, host of Union Ministers, BJP Chief Ministers and many other leaders, touched on coal auction and indicted the Congress for its corruption in coal auction.
“When we would talk of coal during election time people mocked us, especially those in Government that time,” Modi said, adding that “We put our hand in coal and turned it into gold”. “Agriculture sector needs technology, infrastructure upgradation, farmer needs good roads, water in the fields, all-time power for their upliftment,” he said, adding, “The previous Governments have been unfair to the farmers.” Modi spoke about changing the face of the country through Mobile governance and IT policy. “Mobile governance is reality. We are serious about implementing governance through mobile. Where there is mobile governance, there is good governance,” he said. “Spectrum auction is getting the country Rs1 lakh crore,” he added and said his Government has put emphasis on creating new IT jobs
“We have four colours in our flag and we want four revolutions to take the nation forward. White revolution for milk, blue revolution for the seas, green revolution for the grains and saffron for energy revolution,” he said. Modi spoke about “make in India” a concept he has been promoting to augment desi dynamics in all sectors which include Defence and Railways. He slammed the Congress and Opposition parties on the issue of black money. “People taunted us that we spoke about black money and asked us when it will be brought home. They made noise to overcome truth. But you saw that in the first Cabinet meeting itself we decided to form an SIT on black money,” he said.
“Powerful nations at G20 summit also supported India’s suggestions against black money. My request to other countries to stand with us in fight against black money was accepted”, he added. Earlier party chief Amit Shah appealed to party workers to engage in social issues and also lauded the 10-month work of the Narendra Modi-led Government, adding that the BJP will rule for 10-20 years. The BJP president mocked Congress, saying it should locate its “missing leader” instead of finding faults with the BJP.