File photo of Congress leader and former union minister Jairam Ramesh.
Senior Congress leader and former union minister Jairam Ramesh on Saturday said the land acquisition amendments issue will act as a 'sanjeevani' for the party in 2015 just as Chikmagalur was to Congress in 1978.
"We strongly believe that what Chikmagalur did to Congress in 1978, the land acquisition amendments issue will do to the party in 2015...It will act as 'sanjeevani' (one that infuses life)," he told reporters in Bengaluru.
Former prime minister Indira Gandhi had won Chikmagalur Lok Sabha constituency in 1978, which gave her political rebirth.
Mr Ramesh siad that the Congress is not opposing the amendments for the sake of opposing.
"We are not opposing for the sake of opposing. We are cooperating in many other bills including GST bill. This will be a long struggle for us," he said.
He alleged, "the purpose behind these amendments is to benefit a few chosen favourite capitalists and traders and there is nothing else to it and farmers land would be forcibly acquired."
The Congress will oppose the amendments, he added.
As of now, the amendments cannot be passed in the Rajya Sabha as they were opposed by SP, BSP, CPI-M, CPI, DMK, JDU, NCP and TMC" Mr Ramesh said.
Meanwhile, the Congress has already started a nationwide political campaign with "Kisan Virodhi, Narendra Modi" slogan.
The Congress is firmly opposed to these amendments because all political parties, including the BJP, passed the Law in September 2013. "They all supported the law," Mr Ramesh said.
Mr Ramesh alleged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari of spreading lies on the amendments. "Mr Modi and Mr Gadkari, the great champions of these amendments have been spreading lies. 'Mann Ki Baat' is a lie. 'Dil Ki Baat' is a lie," he claimed.
Asked if the move to oppose land acquisition amendments is anti-development, Mr Ramesh said there was no single evidence to show that projects have been held up due to the enactment of 2013 Land Acquisition Law. "
"Without giving a chance for the law to be implemented, the government has set about amending the law which I think simply is unacceptable to us," Mr Ramesh said.