PM Modi addresses BJP's National Executive meet; defends Land Bill, backs black money probe

Bengaluru: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday evening addressed Bharatiya Janata Party's National Executive meet in Bengaluru. The PM in his 45-minute-long speech highlighted achievements of his government during its 10-month rule.

Accusing the previous Congress-led UPA regime of not having right intentions, the PM asserted that his government was taking quick decisions to ensure faster economic development of the country.

Addressing a rally on the first day of the meeting, Modi said sometimes the intentions of a government were more powerful than its policies.

Without naming the Congress, Modi said his government had been facing criticism that it was following policies of the previous United Progressive Alliance government but he sought to debunk this perception.

"Whatever your policy, your intention was not right, ours is. Hence we have gone ahead in the race of development," he said.

Accusing the opposition of spreading falsehoods on the issue of black money, he said his government had taken several initiatives to curb black money including forming special investigation team and bringing a bill in parliament on illegal money stashed abroad.

Facing attack over the new Land Acquisition Bill, Modi said land records would be "reformed" for farmers' benefit and attacked the opposition for "spreading lies" that the government is working against the interests of the farming community. Modi further said his government was working to empower the farmers as it realises that India cannot make progress till villages develop.

Contending that he had lived among the farmers, Modi said he could understand their plight and was working with "good intention" to address their woes.

"How did farmer's lose their land? Where did it go? To get a job of a peon for their children or to make them a driver, they used to be compelled to sell their land to pay bribes.The (previous) governments compelled them to (sell land)," said Modi.

"Land records will be reformed so that farmers get back their land (which they lost). For this, we will launch a big campaign," he said.

Targeting opposition which has mounted a campaign over Land Bill without naming anybody, Modi said, "Those spreading lies do not know how to protect interests of farmers."