NEW DELHI, Nov 4: Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi today made a strong pitch for economic reforms, including the decision to allow FDI in multi-brand retail and expressed the determination of the Government to get the Lokpal Bill passed.
Addressing the mega rally of the Congress on the issue of FDI in retail, Mr Gandhi defended the economic reforms carried out by the Manmohan Singh Government.
He said that contrary to what the Opposition was claiming, the foreign direct investment in retail will benefit farmers.
“If the poor have to progress, then FDI is needed, the economic reforms are needed. At a time when there is a positive atmosphere for the country and India has a standing in the world, the Opposition is engaged in opposing every measure of the government without giving a thought to it,”the Congress General Secretary said.
Calling for a more active role to people belonging to weaker and underprivileged sections of the society in the present political system, Mr Gandhi said, “Unless we open the doors for the common man, we cannot develop.”
Stating that the problem lies in the Indian political system, Mr Gandhi said, “This system is closed for those who are weaker. The voice of the ‘aam aadmi’ is not reaching political echelons.
“No one raises the voice to change this political system. Common man’s voice does not reach this system.”
He also charged the Opposition with not allowing the passage of Lokpal Bill in the Rajya Sabha and said the government was determined to get it passed in Parliament.
“We brought the Lokpal Bill but the Opposition stalled it. However, we are determined to bring it in Parliament and get it passed. We will pass the Lokpal Bill. You wait and watch,” Mr Gandhi said.
Lambasting the Opposition for indulging in ‘mud-slinging’, he said, “the biggest problem with India today is our political system. The people who run the system are busy mud-slinging at one another.
No one is raising the fundamental questions. At a time when there is a positive atmosphere for the country and India has a standing in the world, the Opposition is engaged in opposing every measure of the government without giving a thought to it.”
Reiterating the determination of his party to tackle corruption, he said the Congress-led government brought in the RTI Act so that ‘aam aadmi’ can battle the ‘system’.
“We have given RTI to the people of India. If today, there has been action against corruption, it has been due to the RTI Act,” he claimed.
Listing the measures taken for the welfare of common man, he said the UPA has waived off loans to the farmers.
“We have reached out to the farmers, to the poor, but the Opposition will not acknowledge it. The Congress party brought green revolution in the Country. Our party brought computers in the country and also did liberalisation,” he said.
He said the Congress Government in Delhi under the leadership of Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit had changed the face of Delhi.
“There has been development in the Capital in terms of roads and infrastructure,” Mr Gandhi said.
He said the rural employment guarantee scheme had benefited people across the country.
“We will soon bring the Right to Food Bill in Parliament. We want to ensure that everybody has access to food. We’ve raised the issue of Bhatta Parsaul – the issue of land acquisition from farmers and will continue to,” he said.
Exhorting the youth to join politics, Mr Gandhi said change could not be ushered into the country till the youth join the political system.(UNI)
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