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Modi seeks support of Congress party on controversial land bill

Xinhua, February 27, 2015 Adjust font size:

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday reached out to opposition parties, mainly Congress party, seeking their support for a controversial land bill.

"If farmers suffered, who is to be blamed. There is lot of discussion on land bill. When it was made we walked with you shoulder to shoulder," Modi said in Parliament, seeking the support of opposition parties, mainly the Congress.

The prime minister said his government was ready to do necessary changes if needed. "I am ready to incorporate key changes in the land bill for greater interest of farmers."

The land bill aims at introducing some amendments to the land acquisition act 2013. It has already been passed by the Indian government through an ordinance last year.

The bill has now been presented before the Indian Parliament for its approval so that it becomes a law in accordance with the Constitution; otherwise, the ordinance would lapse after six weeks.

While the Indian government says it will acquire land of farmers for public purposes only, the opposition parties claim it' s anti-farmer and is meant to benefit industrialists. Endi