Opposition created hurdles in passing pro-people bills: Rahul

After 2014 general elections, a "government of youth" will be formed which will "change the country", says the Congress prince

Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi today attacked the Opposition for "creating hurdles at every step" for the UPA government in bringing pro-people legislations like the food and land acquisition bills.

He also attacked the Akhilesh Yadav government saying it was not implementing the National Food Security Act thinking it would benefit Congress in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.

He said he, along with party chief Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, fought hard to get the two ambitious legislations passed by Parliament.

"Efforts were made to create hurdles at every step in Parliament... We were stopped by the Opposition," he said, adding that the bills were stuck at various stages including the Parliamentary Standing Committees. "Even Parliament was not allowed to function," he said.

Addressing a gathering here, Rahul said the bills were passed as it was a promise made by the Congress-led alliance.

He recalled the death of people in Bhatta-Parsaul villages nearby during an agitation over land rights in 2011.

He said after the 2014 general elections, a "government of youth" will be formed which will "change the country".

Targeting the Uttar Pradesh government, he claimed that it has refused to implement the Food Act at this stage. "They want to implement it after the 2014 polls. Perhaps the thinking is that it will benefit Congress in the elections. Now the Congress workers will have to put pressure on ministers and officials to implement the Act now," he said.

Terming the Food Act as a revolutionary measure, Rahul said the earlier slogan 'Aadhi roti khayenge, Congress ko layenge' (will do with little food, but will bring Congress to power) will have to be changed to 'Bhar pet khayenge, Congress ko layenge' (will have a hearty meal and bring Congress to power).

He said it was time to bring change in Uttar Pradesh as successive SP and BSP governments have given "zero" results.

"We do not indulge in politics of violence between religions and castes. We practice politics of non-violence and development," he said.

Referring to the RTI Act, Rahul said it should be used by the common man to enter the rooms of bureaucrats and politicians which are closed for him.

"If they do not give information (under the transparency law), they should be jailed," he said.