Hanumangarh:
Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi today vowed that the Congress will not allow the NDA government to acquire "even an inch of land" in the country as he stepped up his campaign on the land bill issue with a foot-march in Rajasthan.
Mr Gandhi, who has reached out to farmers with a 'padyatra' in various parts of the country including Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh in recent months ratcheting up the pressure on the Centre, also attacked the BJP governments over the issue of corruption.
"The Prime Minister said he won't allow corruption (na khaunga, na khane dunga). He never said that I will stay quiet," Rahul said raising the issues of Vyapam scam and the Lalit Modi controversy.
In Rajasthan, corruption was at the Chief Minister's level, he alleged.
Accusing the National Democratic Alliance or NDA government of denying rights to the poor, farmers and tribals, Rahul said, "I want to assure you that the Congress will not let the NDA government have a singleinch of land. We will not let them move forward."
Rahul held a 'public hearing' in Khotawali village where farmers shared their grievances with him.
He met veteran Congress leader Shyokaran Ram at his residence before commencing the eight-kilometre march accompanied by former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, State Congress Committee President Sachin Pilot and AICC General Secretary Gurudas Kamat.
The 8-km long 'padyatra' was slated to conclude at Amarsinghwala village where Rahul will interact with farmers.
Rahul Gandhi had seized on the farmers' issues to attack the Narendra Modi government during the Budget Session, alleging that the "suit-boot ki sarkar" had neglected farmers and was only working for crony capitalists.
The Congress is opposing the government's Land Bill, rallying the Opposition on the issue. The party has made it clear that it will not relent on it in the Monsoon Session of the Parliament which starts on July 21.
The Congress Vice-President had earlier visited Punjab, Maharashtra and Telangana where he interacted with farmers and undertook padyatras. He had aggressively taken on the Modi Government inside and outside the Parliament on the land bill issue and demand for relief to farmers hit by unseasonal rains.