Govt may re-issue land ordinance if RS fails to pass it, says Birender

Pradeep Sharma

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 25

The BJP-led NDA government will have no option but to issue a fresh land acquisition ordinance if Rajya Sabha fails to pass it, since the existing one lapses on April 5. This was stated by Union Rural Development Minister Birender Singh here today.

“We are making one more attempt to talk to the political parties, including the Opposition, to evolve a consensus on the issue. As the current Ordinance expires on April 5, we may have to issue a re-ordinance after incorporating certain other amendments,” the minister said while addressing a press conference.

Accusing the Congress of launching a “misinformation campaign” against the land Bill to “mislead” the farmers, the Congressman-turned-BJP leaders claimed the Bill was in country’s and farmers’ interest.”We are working out a consensus and I am hopeful that other political parties will see the reason and pass the Bill,” he said.

He further said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had already gone on record, saying the government would not shy away from accepting good suggestions from every quarter provided they were in farmers’ interests.

Regarding the provision of going for acquisition of more land for future expansion of a particular project, Birender said, “We will talk to opposition parties in this regard. We are trying to ensure that farmers’ interests remain protected and excess land is not taken from them unnecessarily under the plea of future expansion.”

Coming down heavily on his bete noire and former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, the minister claimed it was the previous Congress government that had altered the formula for the award of compensation to the farmers. “Even under the old Land Acquisition Act enacted by the previous UPA rule, the Hooda government had issued land acquisition notices for 24,000 acres, fearing the new Bill would be pro-farmer,” he asserted.

Speaking on the inter-state issues, the minister said it was the most-favourable time to settle inter-state disputes between Punjab and Haryana.