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Opposing Land Bill amounts to obstructing growth: Naidu

"Obstructing the land acquisition, fair compensation, and rehabilitation Bill means obstructing the growth of the country. One has to understand this that the country wants growth," said Parliamentary Affairs and Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said at a CII event here.

"Rural boys and girls want job opportunities...approval is needed even for irrigation projects. Employment for the affected families is made mandatory which was not earlier there (in the Bill)," he said.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said the big challenge is going to be passing the amendments to the land law.

"...the big challenge is also going to be passing the amendments to the land law. I firmly believe, that the 2013 land law is hugely detrimental to rural India and I am particularly reemphasising the point. It is the most unfriendly piece of legislation as far as rural India is concerned," he said.

In fact an incorrect assurance was given in Parliament that irrigation projects would be kept out, he said, adding that there is no land availability for irrigation.

Amendments to the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act 2013 have been approved by the Lok Sabha but could not be passed in the Rajya Sabha as the ruling NDA does not have a majority in the upper house.

However, pending the passage of the amendment Bill by Parliament, the Ordinance was re-promulgated to ensure continuity in legislation.

Opposition parties are against the Bill in present form and have been opposing it within and outside Parliament.

"This is unfortunate that a campaign is going on across the country as if we are doing something harmful to the farmers...trying to mislead people is not good," Naidu said, appealing to political parties not to politicalise the issue.

"Let all us join together and get the Bill approved in the coming session of the Parliament. Government is keen to pursue the Bill," he said.

Terming the earlier version of Land Bill unfriendly, Jaitley said that "most of the captains of industry, can go and apply for pieces of land... Your interest is not my primary concern. But what will happen to the whole concept of corridor running through 100 km of rural areas".

There is a very large section of people in India - the 300 million landless people, dalits mostly, living in villages who are looking for employment, he said.

"It is these industrial corridors which would generate employment for them...the 2013 law does not allow any of these things to happen," Jaitley added.

The amendment Bill also gives options to states that their respective governments may notify either or any of those purposes.

"So, if Bihar or West Bengal do not want to notify it, they have the freedom not to notify it. But they can't prevent Gujarat, TN, AP and Maharashtra from notifying it. That goes completely contrary to the concept of federalism," he said.

Asked about further toning down of the Land Bill, Naidu said: "Where is the question of compromise. Whatever is in the interest of farmers and in the interest of the nation, the government is ready to consider practical suggestions."

Lok Sabha approved it by three-fourth majority and the opposition is saying that the government is bulldozing the legislation, he said.

"Whatever amendments we had to do, we have done. After 9 amendments, I don't think anybody will have any objection. Farmers are not worried, they are not concerned. Some of the political opponents, they are concerned. I am appealing to them that please don't oppose for the sake of opposition," he said.
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