BJP plans to change perception over land bill

NEW DELHI: With the land bill stuck in a political logjam, the Narendra Modi government now plans to launch a blitzkrieg to fight the “perception created by the opposition parties” that the legislation is ‘anti-farmer’. As part of the exercise, its leaders are expected to hit the ground to create a favourable opinion.
Prime Minister Modi initiated the process through his radio message that the land bill is meant for the benefit of farmers and in the interest of people as it will help generate employment.
The BJP national executive, slated for April first week, will discuss the issue threadbare and draw up the party to be carried to the people in the form of a campaign. Union ministers are expected to speak on the advantages of the legislation from different public for a to make the most of the parliamentary recess.
BJP will also come out with a detailed dossier on all the achievements of the Modi government to show how it has worked for the poor and is not a ‘pro-corporate’ government. A top party source said, “Perception is there till reality comes to the fore. The land bill is in favour of the farmers and poor and it is only a perception that is being created that it is not. On the ground, we will communicate the reality to the people.”
The party concedes it’s a perception problem and blames it on the opposition parties, including Congress, for stoking such notions that it’s against the farmers and poor.
BJP sources said every new amendment had been incoporated after discussion with the Sangh Parivar affiliates which too had reservations against the bill initially. All of them are on the same page, they said.
BJP chief Amit Shah, who is on a tour of the country till April 30, has been interacting with the zila heads of the party. The feedback would go to the government for policy making, sources said.