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Prime Minister Narendra Modi took his argument on the land Bill directly to the people on Thursday, accusing the opposition of using its majority in the Upper House to stall the country’s progress.

“I appeal to you to raise your voice against them,” Modi told a large gathering while dedicating two units of 600 MW each of Shri Singhaji Thermal Plant, and laying the foundation stone for two units of 660 MW each in Khandwa district of Madhya Pradesh.

“Efforts are being made by some to instigate farmers. You should identify these people,” he said.

"I appeal you to raise your voice against them," urged Modi at a meet in Khandwa.

“We are accused of being anti-farmer, but when I told them (the opposition) in Rajya Sabha that I am ready to amend the legislation, they did not come up with even one point,” the Prime Minister said.

He appeared to re-enter campaign mode, alleging that the previous government had passed a law that was anti-farmer and anti-development, and asking a series of questions to the gathering to drive home the point that it was essential to get land for schools, roads, hospitals and factories — because, he said, “they can’t be built in the sky”.

“Do you want your sons to end up in slums in Delhi or Mumbai? Or would you rather have your sons employed in nearby places,” he asked, accusing the UPA government of not allocating land for schools, hospitals or factories.

“I have no personal business or interests,” Modi said, and described himself as a chowkidar, an expression he had used frequently during the Lok Sabha election campaign.

The PM made the same points on Twitter, posting a serious of tweets from his official handle, summarising his argument.

“…We will never oppose farmers. (I) asked other parties to tell me what to improve but they don’t say anything,” he posted. “The poor need schools. Poor need hospitals. The previous Government refused to give land for hospitals also… Previous Government made a law that did not allow roads to be built. Do you not want schools? Don’t schools need land… The previous law would not allow homes to be made for you.”

In his speech, Modi attributed the BJP’s victory in the elections to the people’s anger against corruption and the previous government’s lack of accountability.

Referring to corruption in the allocation of coal blocks and their subsequent cancellation by the Supreme Court, the PM said, “Paap unhone kiya, musibat hamare liye hui (They sinned, and created problems for us).”

He referred to the Rs 1.10 lakh crore generated by the recent auction of 19 coal blocks, and said his government had proved the then CAG right. The UPA government had manipulated the process, he said, but “we don’t work behind curtains”. “Not one paisa will be swindled.”

On Twitter, the PM posted, “We took several steps for the welfare of the poor, farmers, tribal communities, Dalit sisters and brothers.” He also tweeted on the importance

of power and its conservation: “Think of ways to conserve electricity. It is very important… It is not only homes that brighten but also lives brighten, dreams brighten & the future brightens when electricity comes… To keep someone away from energy is like dragging that person to the stone ages.”

More than 20 per cent of India’s population, living in thousands of villages, have no access to electricity, the PM said, adding that power generation had increased by nearly 11 per cent since the NDA government took over.

Praising Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Modi said the cost of power generation in MP was less than the national average. “This has become possible due to good governance, by being decisive and avoiding wasteful expenditure,” he said.

“Even saving electricity can be a sign of patriotism,” the PM said, quoting Mahatma Gandhi.