Government shouted, threatened and ran off: Rahul Gandhi on land bill

NEW DELHI: Taking a swipe at government over its U-turn on land bill, Rahul Gandhi today said it "ran off" after "threatening" and shouting" in the face of resistance by Congress and vowed that the party will similarly keep up pressure for resignations in Lalit Modi and Vyapam issues.

"On the land issue, Congress stood in front of them. They (government) shouted, made too much noise, threatened and later made a U-turn and ran off," the Congress Vice President said, a day after BJP members in a parliamentary panel moved amendments to restore provisions of the UPA's land law.

"Similarly, on the issue of corruption, Vyapam, on the issue of Rajasthan Chief Minister and Sushma Swaraj, we will not minimise the pressure on them even if they throw us out of Parliament or do not let us enter Parliament," Rahul said.

He made the remarks while agitating with party MPs in Parliament House complex in protest against suspension of its 25 members from Lok Sabha.

The Congress MPs faced action after they did now allow the house to function demanding the resignation of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Rajasthan CM Vasundhara Raje for allegedly helping Lalit Modi and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minisiter Shivraj Singh Chouhan over Vyapam scam.

Rahul said the Congress will 'gherao' the government on these issues in the entire country.

Reacting to the remarks, Rural Development Minister Birender Singh said, "Those who stand at 44 will speak only this language".

Congress was reduced to its least tally of 44 seats in Lok Sabha in the last general elections.

The barbs from both sides came as the government expressed readiness to accept recommendations of the panel on land, which restored provisions of the UPA law, insisting that it was not a climbdown as it was always open to changes on which there is consensus.

All 11 BJP members moved amendments in Joint Committee of Parliament seeking to bring back key provisions of UPA's land law including on consent clause and social impact assessment by dropping the changes brought by Modi Government in December last year and subsequently revalidated by Ordinance thrice