Modi firm as Opposition launches blistering attack
25 Feb 2015 12:38 AM GMT
Facing heat both inside and outside Parliament, Modi called for an “urgent” Parliamentary Party meeting on Tuesday and asked all the leaders to make the legislation passed by the Congress government on the matter more “effective” and “farmer-friendly” but support the Ordinance brought by his government. “Remove the myths propagated by opposition parties. The proposed bill will benefit farmers,” he told party MPs.
PM stressed that amendments in the existing Act have been brought based on suggestions and demands made by Congress-ruled states and their chief ministers. Earlier in the day, the Bill to replace the Ordinance was introduced in the Lok Sabha amid noisy scenes. Another Bill on mining was also introduced but that too faced strong protests by Opposition leaders, especially the BJD, which said its provisions “infringed upon the Constitutional rights of the States.”
Uproar begun soon after Rural Development Minister Birender Singh sought permission to introduce the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (Amendment) Bill 2015. Those who protested even trooped into the well and termed Modi’s vision as anti-farmer. Leading a frontal attack, Trinamool Congress (TMC) MPs attired in green as a mark of protest, slammed the NDA government for working against the interest of the farmers.
Agitated TMC MPs charged BJP for making false promises in the guise of amendments. “This Bill is purely anti-farmer and made to benefit corporates,” TMC MP, Kalyan Banerjee said. They held protests both inside and outside Parliament, backed by Congress, BJD, CPI (M), JD (United), SP, NCP, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), TRS, RJD and BJP’s ally Raju Shetty of the Swabhimani Shetkari Sangathana. TMC leader Saugata Roy said: “Removing the clauses on consent will sound the “death knell for farmers” and will be a boon for corporates.”
Withdraw ‘draconian’ law: Mamata
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday said her party TMC was opposed to land acquisition through force and demanded immediate withdrawal of the “draconian” land ordinance promulgated by the Centre. “Immediately withdraw land ordinance. It is draconian. It will affect the farmers. We have always opposed this,” Banerjee said in a Twitter post. “We do not support forceful land acquisition,” she added.
PM stressed that amendments in the existing Act have been brought based on suggestions and demands made by Congress-ruled states and their chief ministers. Earlier in the day, the Bill to replace the Ordinance was introduced in the Lok Sabha amid noisy scenes. Another Bill on mining was also introduced but that too faced strong protests by Opposition leaders, especially the BJD, which said its provisions “infringed upon the Constitutional rights of the States.”
Uproar begun soon after Rural Development Minister Birender Singh sought permission to introduce the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (Amendment) Bill 2015. Those who protested even trooped into the well and termed Modi’s vision as anti-farmer. Leading a frontal attack, Trinamool Congress (TMC) MPs attired in green as a mark of protest, slammed the NDA government for working against the interest of the farmers.
Agitated TMC MPs charged BJP for making false promises in the guise of amendments. “This Bill is purely anti-farmer and made to benefit corporates,” TMC MP, Kalyan Banerjee said. They held protests both inside and outside Parliament, backed by Congress, BJD, CPI (M), JD (United), SP, NCP, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), TRS, RJD and BJP’s ally Raju Shetty of the Swabhimani Shetkari Sangathana. TMC leader Saugata Roy said: “Removing the clauses on consent will sound the “death knell for farmers” and will be a boon for corporates.”
Withdraw ‘draconian’ law: Mamata
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday said her party TMC was opposed to land acquisition through force and demanded immediate withdrawal of the “draconian” land ordinance promulgated by the Centre. “Immediately withdraw land ordinance. It is draconian. It will affect the farmers. We have always opposed this,” Banerjee said in a Twitter post. “We do not support forceful land acquisition,” she added.
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