(Image source from: Land Bill debate})

Narendra Modi government on Thursday reached out to leaders of Opposition parties, including Sonia Gandhi, and activist Anna Hazare, inviting them to an open debate on the Land Acquisition Bill. BJP is treading cautiously on the crucial Bill and is awaiting the response of other parties on the other two Bills - coal and mines - in the Rajya Sabha. Asserting that the Bill is pro-farmer, Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari wrote to Congress president Sonia Gandhi, leaders of other Opposition parties and social activist Anna Hazare, saying the government is willing to debate all aspects of the Bill.

Aggressive Opposition led by the Congress is blocking the Bill's passage in the Rajya Sabha. They have also submitted a memorandum to President Pranab Mukherjee, terming the Bill as anti-farmer.

The letter written by Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari reads, "The Narendra Modi led BJP government has brought in significant amendments to the Land Acquisition Bill keeping the interest of farmers and rural development in mind. But some parties and organisations are opposing this Bill for political reasons. No compromise has been made in the Bill with the compensation provisions for land owners. No provision in the Bill is anti-farmer... In fact, the Bill will bring prosperity to villages and farmers and we are ready to debate the Bill on any forum." "Some of the laws the UPA exempted are the National Highways Bill and the Railways Bill. We have added some more important issues to it. Should farmers not get water on their fields? Should villages not prosper? Is national security not important?" Gadkari asked in the letter.

By Premji