New Delhi:
In a strongly-worded letter to Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Friday accused the BJP-led NDA Government of being blatantly anti-farmer and anti-poor while urging them to rise above the realm of narrow partisan politics on the contentious Land Acquisition Bill.
"I wish to reiterate that the 2013 law is not a legacy of just the Congress party, it is a legacy of all parties - including the BJP. Urge you to rise above the realm of narrow partisan politics and bring back the 2013 law in totality," said Gandhi.
"Your proposed legislation makes a mockery of your claim that you stand for interest of farmers. Your government's position on defense, irrigation and electrification issues is a blatant attempt to divert attention. It cannot be at the cost of pushing farmers into a pitiable condition or destroying their livelihoods," she added.
Sonia also vowed to never endorse any law that will break the backbone of the nation.
The Congress president had earlier on March 17 led a march of the opposition parties from the Parliament to the President's House to protest against the Land Acquisition Bill.
She has also appealed to President Pranab Mukherjee to intervene in the matter to protect the interest of farmers.
Earlier this month, the Lok Sabha passed The Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (Amendment) Bill, 2015, amid a walkout by opposition parties even as the government moved nine amendments to address the concerns raised by farmers.
