Land Bill: Govt banking on consensus

Describing Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi’s tirade against the land bill as “political opportunism”, the government claimed that the Congress alone was insisting on zero amendment in the 2013 law.

Rural Development Minister Chaudhary Birender Singh stressed that amendments were required in the 2013 law to make it functional as it was passed by UPA in “haste” with an eye on 2014 Lok Sabha polls. The minister expressed readiness to accept whatever “good suggestions are made in the interest of farmers” through the committee headed by BJP MP SS Ahluwalia. His assertions have come in the wake of the government seeking to placate the Opposition on the vexed land acquisition bill by including a fresh section that would allow state governments to have provisions of consent clause and social impact assessment while implementing the law.  

To help break the impasse on the Bill, the Cabinet had last week decided on adding a provision to enable the states to frame and pass their own laws.  The Congress and some other parties have, however, rejected the move dubbing it as a “new kind of conspiracy.”

Asked how President Pranab Mukherjee could give assent to bills by different states on the same issue on which there was a central legislation and whether the government’s idea would not lead to over-lapping, Singh said there had been precedents. “No. It is not about over-lapping. States can bring some improvement in any central legislation on issues falling within the ambit of concurrent list. The President gives assent to their laws. There are many instances, where it has happened. There are many such laws,” he said, adding that the proposal would only be sent by the Central government to the President for his assent.

“Moreover, the President’s assent will happen through us. The state government’s Act goes to President through the concerned ministry. Of course, the President is the final authority. There may also be special circumstances from state to state. If any provision is in the interest of the state, the President gives assent,” he said. 

Asked whether he was hopeful that the bill would be passed during the Monsoon session, Singh said, “It all depends on the Joint Committee report. I feel that it will come by August 3 as the panel was given extension till then. If there is a unanimity and consensus in this report, then I think that the bill will be passed,” he said.  Amid indications of SP coming closer to the government, the minister indicated that barring Congress other parties were not saying no to any amendment.