File photo of Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi
Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi today made a blistering attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi accusing him of being in an "amazing hurry" to "grab" land from poor farmers by deciding to repromulgate the land ordinance for the third time.
"Modi ji in an amazing hurry to grab land from poor farmers at any cost. A 3rd attempt at pushing the anti farmer Land Ordinance! ... Congress Party will continue to fight for the rights of the kisan and mazdoor against this #suitbootkisarkar" (sic), Mr Gandhi said in tweets.
The reaction of Mr Gandhi, who has led the Congress campaign against the Land bill, came hours after the Union Cabinet at a meeting decided to recommend repromulgation of the controversial ordinance for the third time. The 2013 Land bill passed during the UPA regime was the brainchild of Mr Gandhi.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, who was the Rural Development Minister during UPA rule, said the Modi government has made a "mockery" of the exercise to go into the measure by the Joint Committee which had held its first meeting only yesterday.
The "black" ordinance would dilute the importance of the Committee, he said condemning the decision.
Government has "insulted" Parliament by the move, he said demanding that it should give it up. The message that has gone from the move is that Modi government believes in NAMO (No Act Make Ordinance).
Replying to questions, Mr Ramesh said that the party will consider the suggestion to approach President Pranab Mukherjee again on the issue in the wake of the new development.
Speaking separately, party's communication department in-charge Randeep Surjewala dubbed the move as a "travesty of justice" and an "affront to Parliament".
"It is an affront to Parliament which refused to put its stamp of approval. Duplicity of Prime Minister stands exposed as he had only yesterday said that his government is open to reviewing the anti-farmer land ordinance", he said.
He demanded that the government desist from the move and "apologise to the nation for its subversive designs".