Oppn heat puts Govt on defensive in LS

The Narendra Modi-led government on Monday introduced the controversial Land Bill in Lok Sabha, amid strong protests from the Opposition, which termed the legislation ‘anti-farmer’, members from the Congress and some other parties staged a walkout. Rural Development Minister Chaudhry Birender Singh on Monday introduced the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (Amendment) Second Bill, 2015, in the Lower House of Parliament.

Millennium Post had reported in its edition dated April 25 that the government was determined to introduce the Bill, despite its potential to generate controversy ahead of several state assembly polls, which are scheduled to take place later this year.

The Bill was tabled after Speaker Sumitra Mahajan rejected the contention of parties like Congress, TMC, BJD and Left and others, that the Bill was “pending” in the Rajya Sabha and questioned its introduction. In her ruling, the Speaker said: “There is no Bill identical to the one being proposed that is pending” and put the introduction of the Bill for voting of the House.

Before the voting on its introduction, agitated Congress members, along with those from TMC, AAP and Left, staged a walkout. Some of the slogan-shouting members were also seen displaying placards against the Bill. Amid ruckus, Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said the government was not going to pass the Bill on Monday, but was only introducing it.

“This is a pro-farmer legislation,” Naidu said, eliciting strong protests from the Opposition benches. “If the Opposition goes on making political comments and criticise, the government cannot sit watching,” he said. “What is bulldozing. We (government) want to take the majority view. We have some suggestions (in the Bill),” he said. In between, Mahajan tried to pacify the protesting members and said that she would not be able to listen if they kept on shouting.

Earlier, Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge alleged that the government was serving the interests of capitalists and corporates and said the Bill was not in the interests of farmers.

Kharge said the Speaker has discretion, but those powers should be used “judiciously” and urged her not to allow the introduction of the Bill. 

TMC leader Saugata Roy said the Bill was against the interests of farmers and claimed that some clauses, including those related to consent, social impact assessment and food security, had been removed. He said everyone who is for the interests of farmers should oppose the Bill. 

While CPI(M)’s MB Rajesh said there are widespread protests and serious concerns expressed over the Bill, which would lead to corporates grabbing land from farmers.