Thousands of farmers rally against Modi in New Delhi

India's beleaguered opposition leader Rahul Gandhi yesterday led thousands of angry farmers in a protest in the capital against Prime Minister Narendra Modi's controversial overhaul of laws on land-buying.

Congress leader Gandhi accused Modi of being beholden to big business at the expense of struggling farmers during the protest in New Delhi against the government's contentious land bill.

"The Modi government wants to weaken farmers to such an extent that they are rendered helpless and forced to sell their land," Rahul told the crowd.

Dressed in all white and waving Congress party flags, thousands of farmers poured into Delhi for the rally against the bill, which makes it easier for businesses to purchase farmland.

After sweeping to power at last year's elections promising to reform the economy, Modi says the bill is needed to improve the efficiency of land purchases for factories, industrial corridors and other development projects.

But anger has been mounting in rural areas over the move, seen as favouring big business and compounding the misery of debt-laden farmers, who flocked to Modi's BJP at the national election.

Congress mobilised thousands of supporters for the nationally televised protest, seen as a chance for the 44-year-old Gandhi to relaunch himself as a strong head of the party and eventually replace his mother.

The rally comes on the eve of parliament's reopening today when the government is expected to push ahead with efforts to pass the bill despite lacking the numbers in the upper house.