Cong makes strong pitch for passage of Land Acquisition Act

With Rahul Gandhi joining the farmers' agitation against Mayawati government, Congress on Wednesday made a strong pitch for the passage of the pending bills to amend Land Acquisition Act and the new Relief and Rehabilitation Policy.

With Rahul Gandhi joining the farmers' agitation against Mayawati government, Congress on Wednesday made a strong pitch for the passage of the pending bills to amend Land Acquisition Act and the new Relief and Rehabilitation Policy.

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Party spokesperson Jayanthi Natarjan also dismissed BJP's criticism that Congress and BSP are hand in gloves while farmers are being fired upon in Uttar Pradesh, saying the central government cannot be held respnsibile for firing on farmers there as nothing stops states from reviewing rules to provide better compensation to farmers.

Asked whether it was proper for Gandhi to travel there on a bike before the dawn giving the police a slip, Natarajan remarked there was "no ban on travelling by motorcycle...we have more dynamic leaders".

Noting that Gandhi visited the village to understand the concerns of farmers first hand, for which "no opposition leader took this trouble", Natarajan said the issue of amendments in the Land Acquisition Act has been raised many times including by Rahul Gandhi and the bill should be passed soon.

She said that even states should review the rules for providing a better compensation to farmers.