Sonia Gandhi writes to Hazare, vows to oppose land bill

Congress President Sonia Gandhi has expressed her agreement with the concerns of Gandhian Anna Hazare on the NDA government's land bill and vowed to oppose it at all fora.

Gandhi on Tuesday wrote a letter to the social activist in reply to his earlier missive and referred to the protest march to President House by the representatives of 14 parties on the issue. Leaders of 14 political parties led by Sonia Gandhi marched from Parliament to Rashtrapati Bhavan against amendments to the land acquisition act.

"I have got your letter dated March 14 in which you have talked about your doubts about the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (Amendment) Bill, 2015. "I am in agreement with your views that the Ordinance of the NDA government and the amendment bill, which is now before Parliament, is not in the interest of farmers," Gandhi wrote.

Asserting that Congress will oppose this bill on all fora, Gandhi cited the protest march by parties and President's intervention into the matter as an example of their opposition to the bill. "I want to assure you that our fight on this issue will continue," Gandhi said.

The exchange of letters between Congress President and Hazare have come amid signs of some bonhomie between the party and the Gandhian, with Hazare sometime praising Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi for his role in getting the Lokpal bill passed by Parliament. 

Also Read: Land Acquisition Bill: Youth Congress protesters stopped from entering Parliament