Land ordinance pro-farmer, pro-poor: BJP

Terming the land ordinance as "pro-poor and pro-farmer", the BJP on Monday attacked the Congress for its rally in the national capital that "only criticised" the prime minster and raised anything but the real issues of farmers.

"The land ordinance is pro-people, pro-poor and pro-farmer. The farmer is happy... there is no kisan andolan (farmer agitation)," Parliamentary Affairs Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu said.

Speaking to media persons here, Naidu dismissed the opposition's contention that the farmers were "unhappy" with the land ordinance that was re-promulgated on April 3, a day before it was to lapse.

Naidu said the "Kisan-Khet Mazdoor" rally, organised by the Congress on Sunday to protest against the Narendra Modi government's land ordinance, was called to "criticise" the prime minister.

"The Congress is unable to do much at the moment... Their leader (Rahul Gandhi) has just returned. So they organised this rally... that did not discuss anything concerning farmers. It only criticised the prime minister."

He urged people to have an "enlightened" debate on the land acquisition ordinance.