'Not Scared of Narendra Modi and His Friends in Suits', Says Rahul Gandhi

Kozhikode: The suit continued to be the leitmotif in Rahul Gandhi's attack on the Narendra Modi government on Day 2 of his visit to Kerala. This time he told fishermen, "We are not scared of Narendra Modi and his five or six friends in suits."

The Congress vice-president had wished "the suit boot ki sarkaar a happy birthday" as rival BJP celebrated its government's one year in office at the Centre. Today he said, "At the birthday party yesterday, only people in suits and boots were celebrating."

Rahul Gandhi accuses the Modi government of pursuing a reforms agenda that is "anti-poor" and "anti-farmer," to favour big industrialists. At  a public rally in Kozhikode on Tuesday, he had dredged up the five-month-old controversy over the name-striped suit that PM Modi wore during the visit of US president Barack Obama to India.

Mr Gandhi, who has vowed to scuttle all efforts of the Modi government to change the law for land acquisition, said today, "The NDA wants to destroy the law that protects the farmer. Land has become gold in India. They want to give the gold to their friends"

He also told the fishermen he was meeting in Chavakkad of Thrissur district, "They are not picking a fight with poor fishermen, tribals and farmers, they are picking a fight with the soul of the country," adding, "Land is the farmers's mother, the sea is your mother and they want to take your mother away from you."

In an apparent reference to the Centre deciding to extend a ban on motor vessel fishing to 61 days from 47 days as part of measures to safeguard marine wealth, the Congress Vice President said his party would oppose any move to take away the rights of fishermen.

Mr Gandhi's visit and comments on traditional fishermen issues is being seen as part of his outreach to farmers and working class segments as he attempts to resurrect his party, decimated by the BJP in last year's national election.