The battle over corruption between the Congress and the Opposition intensified Sunday, ahead of the crucial Winter Session of Parliament. At the Congress’ huge Ramlila Ground rally, while party chief Sonia Gandhi asked her workers to give a befitting reply to the Oppositon’s campaign against the UPA on corruption, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi strongly defended FDI in retail, saying it would benefit the “aam aadmi”.
The three tried to galvanise the party’s rank and file to take on the Opposition with confidence over the government’s policies on reforms, governance, inflation and fighting corruption.
In a veiled attack on the BJP, which she did not name, Mrs Gandhi said those levelling false allegations against the Congress were themselves “neck deep in corruption”. Quoting a Hindi proverb, she said: “Those who dig ditches for others, have a well ready for them.” This was interpreted as a reference to corruption charges against BJP president Nitin Gadkari.
While Mrs Gandhi said FDI would not only benefit farmers but also all citizens; Dr Singh said FDI in multi-brand retail would create more jobs.
Mrs Gandhi appealed to party leaders and workers to counter the “conspiracy” launched by the Congress’ detractors with confidence, saying: “Congress ka dil, Congress ka daman aur Congress ki nityat saaf hain. Congress ko kisise aankhe churane ki zaroorat nahi... (Our conscience is clear, our record is clean and our intentions are good. There is no need for the Congress to be on the defensive).”
Mrs Gandhi declared no one would be spared if proved guilty on corruption charges, and asked the BJP why it had opposed the Lokpal Bill in the Rajya Sabha. Mrs Gandhi’s speech was the most hard-hitting, targeting the Opposition’s negativity, doublespeak and disruptive tactics in Parliament. She noted how the UPA had pioneered the Right to Information Act. “Ask yourself: can anybody make such legislation if he wants to back corruption?”
PM Manmohan Singh confined himself to highlighting his government’s welfare measures, and proposed more steps like FDI in multi-brand retail and the UPA’s flagship NREGA programme.