New Delhi: BJP President Amit Shah today rejected opposition charge that the land bill was anti-farmer and asked parties not to oppose it for political reasons.
He expressed confidence the land bill and the Goods and Services Tax bill would pass muster in the current budget session of Parliament.
“Let the session be over. I don't think they will not be passed,” Shah said when asked about the fate of key reforms measures like land bill and GST bill.
With a united opposition dubbing the land bill “anti-farmer”, Shah the legislation did not have any anti-farmer clause following amendments brought by the government and suggested that the opposition to it was due to political considerations.
“I think that if a bill is good on merit then it should not be opposed due to political reasons,” he said when asked if his party was disappointed over the opposition's stand.
He, however, parried queries at a press conference on Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi's repeated attack on Modi and the government over farmer issues and said let Union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal answer him. “Let Harsimrat answer Rahul Gandhi. Do not bring me into this,” he said.
She had attacked Gandhi yesterday in Lok Sabha after he highlighted problems being faced by farmers in Punjab and advised him instead to tour his constituency Amethi.
Shah said BJP workers would reach out to farmers to spread awareness and dispel their fears about the land Bill once it was passed in Parliament.
“Our workers will fan out and reach out to farmers after the Bill is passed,” the BJP chief said when asked if his party was willing to launch a drive to allay fears over the Bill.
Asked about the reservations expressed by some BJP allies as regards the Bill, Shah expressed confidence that the party would be able to convince them.
