New Delhi: A Trinamool Congress member in Lok Sabha on Wednesday took a dig at Union Minister Birender Singh urging him to draw inspiration from his grandfather to protect farmers' interest rather than pushing for passage of the controversial land bill which aimed at "benefitting the rich".
Saugata Roy said the Rural Development and Drinking Water and Sanitation Minister should draw inspiration from his grandfather and peasant leader Sir Chhotu Ram to work for the interests of the farmers.
"But your aim is the land bill...You want to give land to big people and benefit the rich," he said while participating in a debate on the Demand for Grants of the Drinking Water and Sanitation Ministry.
Roy said the Union minister should also follow his grandfather's footsteps to ensure more funds for his ministry. The TMC leader moved a cut motion to protest reduction of allocation of funds for the ministry.
He said the slash in funds came at a time when only 40 per cent of the people have access to piped water. More funds are required to draw water from overground sources as groundwater contained flouride and arsenic, he contended.
When Roy appreciated former Finance Minister P Chidambaram for allocating funds for clean water, he drew the ire of AIADMK members who said this was not true.
