Reality check: Has Rahul Gandhi been accurate in making political attacks on Narendra Modi government?

Back from his sabbatical, Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi has been combative. But noticeable as his many political attacks on Modi government have been, has Gandhi been accurate? True to facts? Not always. ET compares Rahul and reality:

SUPPORT PRICE

Rahul: UPA hiked wheat MSP from Rs 640 to Rs 1,400 per quintal. Modi govt’s annual hike was only Rs 50

REALITY: That Rs 640-1,400 hike came in 10 years, from 2004-05 to 2013-14. So, false comparison. And UPA-II’s MSP hike in its last year was Rs 50 too. Same order of increase in support prices Increase in minimum support prices Rs /Quintal

REAL ESTATE BILL

Rahul: UPA defined an apartment’s carpet area clearly — as net usable area excluding walls. Modi govt has complicated matters by bringing in the National Building Code

REALITY: Revised Bill says real estate can be sold only on actual carpet area

Rahul: UPA didn’t allow change in plan post approval and project launch. Modi govt Bill allows undefined ‘minor alterations’

REALITY: Revised Bill says builders need ‘yes’ from two-thirds of allottees for making a change. Allows minor alterations for architectural & structural reasons

AMETHI FOOD PARK

Rahul: Scrapping of food park is politics of revenge. Project would have given better prices to farmers

REALITY: Amethi project a non-starter since its 2010 sanction. And govt says the petroleum ministry under UPA in 2013 had refused to supply gas to the project

AGRI CREDIT

Rahul: Farm credit hike averaged 20% every year under UPA. Modi govt gave only 5%

REALITY: RBI data show farm credit growth was 15% in 2014-15, roughly Modi’s first year, compared with 13.5% in 2013-14, UPA’s last year. And the hikes given out so far by Modi govt are more than 5%. The 2015-16 budgetary hike is around 6.5%

FARM GROWTH

Rahul: Farm growth was 4.1% under UPA, fell to 1% in Modi’s first year

REALITY: At least in 4 years, farm growth was 1% or less in the 10 years of UPA Not much difference in farm sector growth Annual growth in agri, forestry & fishing (%)

NET NEUTRALITY

Rahul: Govt wants corporates to take over Internet. Trai consultations won’t do. Need to bring in a law

REALITY: Trai is a statutory body. And the telecom minister has supported net neutrality. Plus, there’s a 6-member telecom ministry panel looking into the issue. And, you didn’t hear Rahul talk about UPA’s strong-arm net laws.