Jaitley holds talks with farmer’s representatives
29 May 2015 6:28 AM IST
Battling strident opposition on the land bill, Government on Thursday held interaction with farmers' representatives from various states to address their "misgivings" on various issues and take their concerns on board.
In an hour-long interaction, which saw demands including bringing back the consent clause in the land bill, Information and Broadcasting Minister Arun <g data-gr-id="39">Jaitely</g> assured the farmers that the Government would go ahead on the issue only after incorporating their suggestions and that their
interests will not be ignored.
Emerging after the meeting, former BJP Kisan Morcha leader and Advisor of DD Kisan channel, Naresh Sirohi told reporters that farmer representatives from over 30 organisations expressed their views on <g data-gr-id="38">land</g> bill in the meeting. He said the minister has constituted a committee of five-six persons, which will record the suggestions of farmers on <g data-gr-id="37">land</g> bill, and present to him in future interactions.
Sirohi will be its coordinator. "We will have more such meetings. Jaitley ji told them that they should decide on the land bill. He said that the government's intention is very clear and it is with farmers.
<g data-gr-id="26">Government</g> wants that farmers should get employment. It will take into account what farmers want," he said.
Various farmer organisations also submitted petitions to Jaitley. In its petition, Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) termed the new land bill as a "joke" on the years-long struggle of farmers and batted strongly for the 2013 Land Bill of the UPA.
The meeting with farmers' representatives happened a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that amendments in the land acquisition bill in the interest of farmers, poor, village and nation will be accepted. "Gaon, Garib, Kisan (village, poor and farmers): if the suggestions are favourable to these downtrodden groups and are in the interests of the nation, we will accept those suggestions," Modi had said yesterday.
First meeting of joint Parliament panel on land bill today
The first meeting of the Joint Committee of Parliament, which will go into provisions of the controversial land acquisition bill, will be held tomorrow. Former Union minister and BJP MP <g data-gr-id="64">S S</g> Ahluwalia will head the Committee. The 30-member panel would submit its report on the bill, which has already been passed by the Lower House, on the first day of Monsoon Session. Almost the entire Opposition and some allies of the ruling NDA like Shiv Sena and Swabhimani <g data-gr-id="65">Pakshya</g> are opposing various provisions of the amendment land bill brought by the government. Congress and Left parties have been <g data-gr-id="62">specially</g> targeting the Modi dispensation over the bill which they termed as “anti-farmer” and “pro-corporate”.
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