UPA Chairperson and Congress President Mrs.Sonia Gandhi said that decision of FDI in retail would eliminate the middlemen and help farmers and consumers of the country. She said, political parties opposing it are only protecting middlemen. Addressing a farmers rally at Rajkot in Gujrat, Mrs.Gandhi said though Chief Ministers are not bound to implement the FDI in their respective states, they are threatening the UPA Government on the issue. She said that UPA Government will not bow to these parties . Referring to the issue of corruption, Mrs.Gandhi said that corruption is spread in politics and society and UPA Government is committed to fight it. She said that Congress led government has already introduced the Right to Information Act in this direction and taken strict action against corrupt people, but it was BJP which had not allowed the Lokpal bill to pass in the Rajya Sabha. Mrs.Gandhi said that Parliament is the place in democracy to discuss all issues including corruption, but opposition did not allow the parliament to discuss it. She said that it is up to the people of the country to decide as to who are against corruption. BJP is against the Congress and not against corruption, she added.
Attacking Narendra Modi Government , Mrs. Gandhi alleged that Gujarat Government is fully involved in corrupt practices and there is proof in CAG reports, but Chief Minister is not allowing the Lokayukkta to function in the state.
Mrs.Gandhi said that UPA Government has provided assistance to the Gujarat 50 percent more than previous NDA Government led by BJP. She said that some parts of Saurashtra are facing drought and there are problems of water and fodder in many areas but State Government has not send its details to the Union Government.