As the political heat over the Land Acquisition Bill continues to simmer, Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Friday wrote a letter to Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, saying that the BJP leader’s invitation for a debate on the contentious act is a mockery of the tradition of consensus building.
Sonia accused the BJP-led NDA government of being anti-farmer.
Sonia’s letter to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader comes days after Gadkari challenged the Congress chief for an open debate on the proposed land bill.
In a strongly-worded letter, Sonia targeted the Narendra Modi government of being anti-poor and accused the Centre of compromising rights of the weaker sections of society to benefit a few industrialists.
Slamming the proposed land bill, the Congress president described the legislation as an unabashed display of half truths.
Further commenting on the land bill put forth by the NDA, Sonia said diluting the 2013 land act mocks farmers’ pain.
Hailing the bill passed by the previous UPA II government, the Congress leader asserted, “I wish to reiterate that the 2013 land law is not a legacy of just the Congress party, it is a legacy of all parties, including the BJP.”
Criticising the BJP for bringing an Ordinance on land bill, Sonia maintained that without any debate, the BJP government amended a well-debated law, which was passed during the previous UPA regime.
Remaining adamant on opposing the proposed land bill, Sonia said farmers are the backbone of India and the Congress will protect them at any cost.
She further urged Gadkari to rise above the realm of narrow partisan politics and bring back the 2013 land law in totality.
