New Delhi: Telling farmers that "lies" were being spread about the new land acquisition bill, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday asserted that the proposed law was in farmers' interest as it will improve infrastructure, employment, output and incomes in rural areas.

Reaching out to farmers in his "Mann Ki Baat" programme on All India Radio, Modi took several digs at the Congress and other parties for their opposition to the bill, which could not be taken up in the Rajya Sabha -- where the government lacks majority -- in the budget session's first half. The Congress however termed Modi's address "false talk".