New Delhi, March 10 (IANS) Hitting out at the opposition, Rural Development Minister Birender Singh said here on Tuesday that certain parties opposing the land bill have been selective while espousing farmers' causes.
Amid uproar by opposition parties in the Lok Sabha, Birender Singh said: "You don't have courage to say the right things."
Singh, a former Congressman, said farmers' issues were important as far as Bhatta Parsaul was concerned. "But when farmers are being looted in Haryana then it doesn't matter. This can't go on."
"The party which has created the biggest ruckus over this amendment bill have ruled the country for nearly 50 years and during this time, the number of people dependent on agriculture has gone down from 70-80 percent to 60 percent," the minister said, replying to a nearly eight-hour debate on the Land Acquisition Bill.
"People who are speaking on behalf of farmers today have been in power for 50 years. In 1972, there was a demand to fix the lower land ceiling for farmers so that farming remains a viable vocation. This was not accepted," he said.
Birender Singh countered the Congress charge of having taken away the soul of the 2013 law, saying: "We have not taken away the soul of the legislation ... you have. We have put the soul back."
PM Modi Mann Ki Baat Prime Minister Narendra Modi is addressing the first 'Mann Ki Baat' program
Saiyaara: Karan Johar praised 'Saiyaara', gave a befitting reply to the troll when he was trolled
Ahan Pandey and Anit Padda's film Saiyaara is getting praise from all sides. The film has impress
Lakhimpur case accused Ashish Mishra gets bail, know what Rakesh Tikait said
Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishra's son Ashish Mishra, accused in the Lakhimrpur viole
ICC announces bids for World Cup mementos
Wellington, March 22 (IANS) With the buzz around the World Cup semi-finals, the International C
Thousands of Rohingya Muslims have made their way into the interior of India from the north-easte
'If we are attacked, Pakistan will launch a nuclear attack on Israel', Iran's big claim amid tension
The tension between Iran and Israel is continuously increasing. Both countries are firing missile
Big action by CM Yogi on Kanpur abduction case, 4 policemen suspended including additional SP
Kanpur: Kanpur district of Uttar Pradesh has been in the limelight for the last month. The Bikaru
'India's Daughter' raised issues globally: US writer
Kolkata, March 16 (IANS) Batting for women's safety "anywhere, anytime", an American writer on
National Testing Agency/NTA has declared the result of JEE Mains June session exam. The testing a
Wholesale price-based (WPI) inflation rose to 14.55 percent in March, driven by a rise in crude o
