No going back on Land Bill, open to changes: Gadkari

Government’s key pointsman with other parties on the bill, Gadkari alleged that Congress was opposing the Bill for political reasons as part of its agenda to spread disinformation against the government.

“There is no question of going back on the Land Bill...Whatever is in the interests of the nation will be done forcefully,” the Road Transport Minister said. 

Gadkari said the government has been speaking to opposition parties to get their support in Rajya Sabha, where NDA lacks in <g data-gr-id="43">numbers,</g> and noted BJD’s decision to support the Bill.

He was asked how the government would cobble up numbers in Rajya Sabha for the passage of the Bill.

To a question if the government was willing to bring in more amendments to accommodate the 

<g data-gr-id="74">Opposition,</g> he noted that nine of them have already been brought in and the government was open to “good” suggestions.

“If the amendments are good, then Prime Minister Narendra Modi, our government will (accept),” he said.

Gadkari, however, made it clear that the government was committed to pressing ahead with the legislation in Parliament irrespective of the stand of the opposition parties.

“BJD has come out in our support on the land bill. We were accused of being arrogant, now we are going to everybody with folded hands... If they come, it is good; if they oppose we will continue to move forward,” he said.

To another query on reservation expressed by BJP allies Shiv Sena and Swabhiman Paksha, Gadkari said each one has his own axe to grind and used a Hindi proverb, “looking somewhere, targeting something else”.

Succumbing to the opposition pressure, the government has sent the contentious bill to a joint committee of Parliament, which is scheduled to submit its <g data-gr-id="55">report in</g> the beginning of the monsoon session. The government has promulgated the land ordinance twice so far in the absence of parliamentary nod.

Gadkari equated opposition of Congress to the land bill with its campaign of “fear-mongering” among minorities against the BJP, saying it was doing so for political reasons even though <g data-gr-id="56">ground</g> situation was far different.

“Under UPA’s tenure, <g data-gr-id="60">growth</g> rate had dipped to 4.25 per cent and the country was wrecked. Parties like Congress think what will happen to them if the country moves towards progress and development. They think they will be asked by people what did they do?<g data-gr-id="59">,</g>” he said.

Dismissing Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi’s accusations against the government that it was “anti-farmer” and “anti-poor”, the Union minister asked where was he when farmers were in distress after crops were hit by unseasonal rains and hailstorms.