Headlines
Gadkari writes to Congress chief, Hazare on land bill
New Delhi, March 19
Union Transport Minister
Nitin Gadkari on Thursday said he has written to Congress president
Sonia Gandhi and activist Anna Hazare on the land acquisition bill,
inviting them for an open debate on the proposed legislation.
"I
have written a letter to Sonia ji and Anna ji, requesting them to choose
a platform to have an open debate on the land bill," Gadkari told
reporters.
He said the central government was willing to make
changes if required and if they can prove government is wrong. "The
government will accept the suggestions made by opposition if they proved
the Centre wrong."
According to sources, Gadkari was asked by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to sort out differences over the land bill.
Gadkari
said: "Contrary to projections, the proposed land acquisition law isn't
against farmers...It will actually help rural infrastructure,
irrigation and road connectivity."
He also accused the opposition of politicising the issue.
Hazare sent a three-page letter to Gandhi on March 14, seeking her party's cooperation in opposing the land bill.
On
Wednesday, the Congress president wrote back to the activist, saying
that she agrees with him that the land bill brought by the central
government was not in the interest of farmers and her party will
continue its fight against it.
Gandhi also said the Congress will oppose the bill at every forum.