Modi said he could understand farmers' plight and was working with "good intention" to address their woes.

Facing attack over the new Land Acquisition Bill, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said the land records would be “reformed” for farmers’ benefit and attacked opposition for “spreading lies” that the government is working against the interests of the farming community.

Addressing a public meeting in Bengaluru, he said his government was working to empower the farmers as it realises that the nation cannot make progress till villages develop.

Contending that he had lived among the farmers, Mr. Modi said he could understand their plight and was working with “good intention” to address their woes.

“How did farmers lose their land? Where did it go?...To get a job of a peon for their children or to make them a driver, they used to be compelled to sell their land to pay bribes.. The [previous] governments compelled them to [sell land],” said the Prime Minister who is in Bengaluru to attend BJP’s two-day National Executive that began on Friday.

“Land records will be reformed so that farmers get back their land. For this, we will launch a big campaign,” he said.

Targeting the Opposition which has mounted a campaign over the Land Bill without naming anybody, Mr. Modi said, “Those spreading lies do not know how to protect interests of farmers.”