Oppose land Bill in Rajya Sabha: Anna Hazare to opposition parties

NEW DELHI: Social activist Anna Hazare today appealed to the opposition parties to resist the government's attempts to pass the Bill in Rajya sabha when introduced in the Upper House.

"Anna (Hazare) has written a letter to all the opposition parties to oppose the anti-farmer bill if it is introduced in the Rajya Sabha," Vinayak Patil, an aide of Hazare said.

Patil was in the capital to meet the opposition leaders and also hand over a memorandum to all major opposition parties.

"The bill was passed in the Lok Sabha using brute majority. The bill has several clauses, which are anti-farmer in nature. Now this bill will be introduced in the Rajya Sabha, but the government does not have majority there. So, the bill cannot be passed.

"I request you to vehemently oppose the bill in the Rajya Sabha," Hazare said in his letter to the opposition party leaders.

"We visited Congress President Sonia Gandhi's office, NCP president Sharad Pawar, JDU chief Sharad Yadav and JDS leader H D Deve Gowda and have requested them to oppose the bill when it comes in Rajya Sabha.

"We have also submitted a memorandum to Rural Development Minister Birendra Singh since the bill has been introduced by his Ministry," Patil said.

The Gandhian activist held a two-day protest against the "anti-farmer" bill at the Jantar Mantar last month. Hazare has also threatened of a mass agitation if the bill is passed.