Referring to the Food Security Bill passed last week in Parliament, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday attacked critics of the Bill and said money spent on providing food to the poor cannot be called “wastage” of financial resources.
“The Opposition had said it is a wastage of money. Is feeding someone wastage of money? If it is then it is fine, we should go ahead as we want the poor of India to stand on their own feet,” he said.
Mr. Gandhi was speaking at a function where he distributed certificates conferring freehold rights on residents of resettlement colonies in Delhi. Around 13 lakh families living in 45 resettlement colonies are expected to benefit by the Congress-led Delhi Government’s decision.
The resettlement colonies are situated in different parts of the city including Sriniwaspuri, Wazirpur, Satya Niketan, Janakpuri, Pankha Road and Madangir.
In his address, Mr. Gandhi said that in the past 10 years the development paradigm in the country has changed due to the UPA Government.
“We are conferring rights today… this is the guarantee of development. After the food security legislation, nobody in the country will remain hungry,” he said, adding that the government has ensured inclusive growth through a number of historic legislations such as the Right to Information Act and the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act. He praised the Delhi Government for ensuring the welfare of all sections of society besides carrying out major infrastructural development. “The entire country knows that if infrastructure development has taken place then it has taken place in Delhi. And it is the Congress government that has made this happen,” he said.
“But infrastructure has no use unless people do not progress along with it,” he said, stating that the conferment of freehold rights on residents is a way of helping people progress.
Mr. Gandhi also stated that the sections of people living in various parts of the city including resettlement colonies and unauthorised colonies have been the ones who have contributed significantly in making Delhi the “best city” in the country.
“If these flyovers are made, who has made them? If these roads are built, who has constructed them? Those living in the slum clusters and resettlement colonies have immensely contributed to the growth of the city. They have invested their blood and sweat in this,” said Mr. Gandhi, adding that “we will never forget you.”
Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit endorsing Mr. Gandhi as the future Prime Minister of India said that he had a “vision” to take the country forward.
