Congress president Sonia Gandhi meeting farmers in Kota
Social activist Anna Hazare has called Congress president Sonia Gandhi's pledge of support to his agitation against the new Land Acquisition Bill politically motivated.
At a programme organised by Hind Samachar group, for distributing aid to martyrs' family in Jalandhar on Sunday, Anna said, "Sonia Gandhi's only intention in opposing the Land Acquisition Bill is to gain political mileage for Congress."
"Like the NDA government at the Centre, the Congress too doesn't think about farmers' welfare. Had it been so, UPA would have carried out land survey throughout the country before passing the Land Acquisition Act in 2013," he said.
Replying to Anna's on the Land Bill issue, the Congress president had last week assured the social activist that her party will oppose the Bill at all fora.
"Whenever I launch an agitation for welfare of people, the Opposition parties take political advantage out of it. But this time, the common people have to find out the real motive of these political parties," the social activist said.
"Acquisition should take place only after survey and categorisation of land. Also only barren and non-agricultural land should be acquired," Anna said.
Commenting on turmoil within the ranks of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), without naming anyone, he said, "The problem is with the chair. People's mind change as soon as they come to power and then they see nothing but the chair."
He also added, "Leaders must work for the welfare of the people leaving aside the thought for power."
Asked about the various schemes announced by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Anna said, "It's easy to declare schemes but difficult to implement them. People in power should take care that the schemes are properly enacted."