Land Acquisition Amendment Bill to be tabled in Lok Sabha today, fireworks likely

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, Mar 09, 2015:  A united Opposition is expected to foment trouble for the BJP-led NDA government as it prepares to table the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Amendment Bill in Lok Sabha on Monday.

 

In order to build consensus on the controversial land bill, senior NDA ministers area likely to meet top opposition leaders today before the proposed bill comes up for consideration and passage in Lok Sabha.

The Centre is also reportedly working on further amendments to dilute some provisions of the ordinance.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidu, Rural Development Minister Birender Singh and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley are expected to meet senior opposition leaders at 10 am today to negotiate on the contentious land law.

The Land Acquisition Act, brought as an ordinance, amends the existing law passed by the former UPA regime in 2013. In the new version, the BJP government has removed the need for obtaining the consent of land-owners and carrying out Social Economic Assessment (SIA) for acquiring land under certain categories.

The government had earlier said that it was ready to deliberate on opposition suggestions and go the extra mile to prevent any injustice to farmers and to strengthen their hands.

The opposition parties, however, have strongly voiced their objections to the bill.

The Congress party even held a mega rally called ’Zameen Wapsi Andolan’ at Jantar Mantar to oppose the Land Acquisition Ordinance.

Several other political parties including the Trinamool Congress (TMC), Shiv Sena and Lok Janshakti Party are opposed to the Land Acquisition Ordinance.

Meanwhile, noted social activist Anna Hazare will meet NGO leaders today to decide the date of "padyatra" to pressurise the Centre on ‘anti-farmer’ provisions in Land Acquisition Bill.

Anna Hazare, who is in the Gandhi Ashram in Sevagram in Maharashtra, today said that the Land Acquisition Bill is not good for the farmers at all and the Centre needs to take it back.

Hazare had also launched a protest at the Jantar Mantar and criticized the ruling BJP over its promise of ’achhe din’ during the Lok Sabha polls last year.

 

Courtesy: Zeenews