New Delhi: usually fractious opposition parties joined forces on Tuesday for a march against a bill to ease land acquisition rules, a rare show of unity that bodes badly for a key part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s economic overhaul plans.
Opposition parties from across the political spectrum, including Congress President Sonia Gandhi, walked from parliament to the president’s home demanding the government drop its plans.
“We have come together to oppose the Modi government’s amendments,” Gandhi said, demanding the right to fair compensation for farmers and transparency in land acquisition. She was flanked by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the leaders from 13 other political parties.
Conflict between farmers and companies trying to secure land for industrial projects has hampered India’s plans to expand its network of highways, build mines and other infrastructure, holding up about $300 billion of investment.
