Nothing new in president's address: Opposition

The opposition Congress Monday said President Pranab Mukherjee's address to parliament had "nothing new", with party president Sonia Gandhi calling it a revamp of policies of the previous UPA regime.

"There is nothing new. These are only revamping some of the old UPA (United Progressive Alliance) policies and presenting it," Gandhi told reporters.

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge slammed the government for working at the behest of some industrialists.

"Where is the 'sabka saath, sabka vikas' (taking everyone along, development for all) the government was talking about? The NDA (National Democratic Alliance) government has taken everyone's support but is working for the development of some industrialists and corporates," Kharge told reporters.

"The law that they are making will only take away farmers' land," Kharge said, referring to the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (Amendment) Ordinance.

Kharge said the skill development programme mentioned in the president's speech was a UPA policy.

"What they are saying about skill development was already started by the UPA government. The speeches they used to give in rallies, they printed and asked the president to repeat in parliament," he said.

Congress leader Pramod Tiwari said there was no question of the Congress supporting the government on land acquisition.

"There is no question of supporting the land acquisition ordinance. It is anti-farmer and the Congress will not accept it in the present form. The government is working under pressure of some industrialists," Tiwari told IANS.

Janata Dal-United president Sharad Yadav said the president's speech was too long.

"There was nothing new. The president's speech was a repetition of whatever has been said by the prime minister. The speech was very long," Yadav said.

Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati spoke on similar lines. "The speech was a reiteration of what government has been saying."