Stop diversionary tactics on land bill: Congress to Government

New Delhi, March 19 (IANS) The Congress asked the government on Thursday to stop "diversionary tactics" on the land bill, calling it a "sinister attempt" to kill the spirit of the land acquisition act brought when the UPA was in power.

In response to a letter from Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari, the Congress, in a statement said: "BJP and Nitin Gadkari should stop hoodwinking and attempting diversionary tactics to dilute the agony, pain and outrage among the entire farming community by Modi government's sinister attempt to kill the soul and spirit of the Right to Fair Compensation Act 2013."

The statement asked the government to answer why the ordinance route was adopted in the first place to dilute the Act if the prime minister was open to suggestions.

"Will PM Modi and Nitin Gadkari answer as to why did BJP unanimously supported the Right to Fair Compensation Act, 2013 inside and outside parliament nine months ago and why did they proceed to kill the same law within six months of coming to power even before it could be implemented?" the statement questioned.

The statement came after Gadkari said he has written to Congress president Sonia Gandhi and social activist Anna Hazare inviting them for an open debate on the land bill brought by the NDA government.