Cong following dual policy on land acquisition ordinance: Birender

Manish Sirhindi

Tribune News Service

Ambala, March 1

Union Minister for Rural Development Birender Singh has accused the Congress of following a dual policy on the land acquisition ordinance claiming that its leaders gave different statements in meetings with the government and said something else in the public.

Interacting with mediapersons at Ambala, he said the NDA government was committed to the land acquisition ordinance, but was considering meaningful suggestions from opposition parties.

He said the Centre had convened a secretary-level talk in June last year during which states ruled by the Congress had forwarded a request for change in the Land Acquisition Bill.

He said based on the suggestion moved during this meeting, a proposed draft had been prepared for the ordinance and a final notification was issued which was based on this draft.

He said Chief Minister ML Khattar had now constituted a committee to study the notification and on the basis of the report by this committee, a final decision would be taken.

He said now Congress leaders were “misleading” the people of the state by opposing the land acquisition ordinance of the NDA government.

Open to suggestions

The NDA government is committed to the land acquisition ordinance and we are considering meaningful suggestions from the opposition parties. Congress leaders are “misleading” the people of the state by opposing the ordinance. —Birender Singh, union minister