They have pitched against the proposed legislation of the NDA government in its present form and insisted on <g data-gr-id="40">incorporation</g> of the consent clause and social impact assessment in the new law.
Swadeshi Jagran Manch, an RSS outfit, has also demanded that change of land use not be allowed and land not developed for five years be returned to the original owners.
Another RSS affiliate, Bhartiya Kisan Sangh, has called for <g data-gr-id="39">consent</g> of at least 51 <g data-gr-id="25">per cent</g> of farmers being taken before land is required.
In its written submission to the Joint Committee of Parliament looking into the bill, Swadeshi Jagran Manch (SJM) has said the 2014 Land Ordinance replaced the 2013 Act, passed by the UPA government, "in undue hurry" and the re-promulgated Ordinance contains several "detestable and unacceptable" sections even after incorporation of several amendments.
Joining forces with opposition parties, the Manch said, "SJM is of the considered view that the LAAR Act 2013 passed by the Parliament unanimously was replaced by LAAR (Amendment) ordinance 2014 in <g data-gr-id="38">undue</g> hurry.
"Re-promulgated LAAR (Amendment) ordinance issued on April 3, 2015 contains several detestable and unacceptable sections, even after incorporation of several amendments that have been included in 2015 ordinance under intense public pressure," Manch's national co-convener Ashwani Mahajan said in its submission before the panel.
The Manch said <g data-gr-id="42">as</g> per internationally established practice, a project could be undertaken only after making social and environmental impact assessment, something which is followed by World Bank even for roads built by its funding.
"Why the same should not be followed by Government of India in <g data-gr-id="36">construction</g> of Public-Private Partnership infrastructure projects?
"This well-established practice has been violated in the new ordinance, which is against natural justice for those affected by proposed land acquisition," Mahajan said.
Farmers' land will not be given to corporate: Birender Singh
Claiming that lands acquired by the Centre will be utilised only for development projects, Union Minister Chaudhary Birender Singh said not an "inch of farmers' land" will be given to a "corporate house". "Not an inch of farmers' land will be given to any corporate house," he said on Saturday while addressing a public meeting in <g data-gr-id="58">Rajound</g> village here. Singh also accused the opposition parties of misleading the agrarian community in the country on the contentious Land Bill. "The opposition, which was badly defeated in last Lok Sabha polls, is misleading farmers on the issue," Singh said.
Asserting that his maternal grandfather Chhotu Ram always fought for the cause of farmers and downtrodden, he said, "So how can I work against the interest of farmers." The Union Minister said that crores of <g data-gr-id="60">youth</g> of the country were looking for employment.