No compromise on land bill: Sonia Gandhi

Bhopal, April 2: Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Thursday said that the party will not compromise on the land bill passed by the UPA government and termed as "anti-farmer" the new bill brought by the Modi government.

Gandhi, who visited Madhya Pradesh to meet farmers whose crops have been damaged in the recent untimely rains, said that the party was firm on the bill that was passed in 2013.

"You know what is happening about the land bill. We will not compromise on it. The new bill is anti-farmer. We are firm on the bill that was passed by Congress-led UPA government," Gandhi said.

She said that the land bill of 2013 was supported by several parties including the Bharatiya Janata Party.

[Opposition determined to defeat land bill: Sonia ]
"You tell me what is wrong with the bill. The new bill is not in the interest of farmers," Gandhi said and added that it was in the interest of corporate sector.

The new land bill brought by the National Democratic Alliance government has been passed with nine official amendments in the Lok Sabha but has not been taken up in the Rajya Sabha. The Narendra Modi government lacks majority in the upper house.

Apart from Congress, several other opposition parties are firmly rallied against the controversial bill.

The union cabinet is learnt to have given its approval for re-promulgation of the ordinance on the land bill. The earlier ordinance is set to lapse April 5.

Gandhi also said that the her party was fighting for the interest of farmers and will continue to do so.

IANS