We will get Lokpal Bill passed, says Rahul Gandhi

New Delhi: Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi on Sunday promised that the UPA government will get the Lokpal Bill passed in Parliament in the coming months. "We will get the (Lokpal) bill passed in Parliament soon. Wait and watch," Rahul assured assured his party workers at the Congress's massive rally held in support of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government's policies at the Ramlila Ground in New Delhi.

He also attacked the Opposition for stalling the anti-corruption legislation in Parliament. "The Opposition stalled the Lokpal Bill in the previous sessions of Parliament. But we will bring it again," Rahul said. Touching upon the anti-corruption movement in the country, the young Congress leader said it was the UPA government of the last eight years that brought in the Right to Information Act in 2005 through which people could get any information from the government.

Targeting the Opposition parties for what he claimed as "lying" to farmers about foreign direct investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail, Rahul said the UPA government's policy will benefit farmers immensely. He said FDI policy of the government would bring in cold storage facilities and food processing centres to the farmers, thereby ensuring more profits to them.

"The Opposition parties have been lying about the FDI policy to the farmers, particularly in Himachal Pradesh (where voting in the assembly polls is underway)," he said without naming the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). "The FDI will bring cold storage facilities and food processing centres closer to the farmers. They will immensely benefit from these," he said.

Rahul also said that the UPA government, since it came to power in 2004, has worked for bettering the lives of common poeple, brought in schemes such as the rural job guarantee programme that provided employment to millions and waived loans of farmers. He said the UPA government would in the future too work for the common man with legislations on food security and land acquisition.

"We want to ensure the poor do not go to sleep on empty stomachs. We want to ensure the poor farmers' land is not taken away," he added. While the opposition parties were against the UPA government's policies for the sake of opposing, Rahul said the Congress leadership has "given direction" to the country and the government.

(With additional information from IANS)