Centre to cut short RS session to push land ordinance

KV Prasad

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 27

Unfazed by staunch opposition to the land acquisition Bill, the BJP-led NDA Government today decided to recommend to the President prorogation of the Rajya Sabha. This will pave the way for re-promulgation of the ordinance, scheduled to lapse on April 5. “The Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs today met and has decided to recommend prorogation of the Rajya Sabha with immediate effect,” Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said after a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs chaired by Home Minister Rajnath Singh.

Earlier this week, Rural Development Minister Birender Singh indicated the government may re-promulgate the ordinance. The new legislation should incorporate the nine official amendments to the Bill, moved by the government to replace the December 2014 ordinance and passed by the Lok Sabha in the first phase of the Budget session. Facing stiff opposition from parties on either side of the political divide, the Modi government failed to secure Parliament approval for the ordinance before both Houses went into recess on March 20. Yet, it decided to bite the bullet. The option was either to allow the ordinance lapse after the April 5 deadline for passage of the Bill or re-promulgate it, which cannot happen when Parliament is in session.

The current recess till April 20 is part of the ongoing Budget session and for an ordinance to be issued, at least one of the two Houses has to be prorogued.

Prior to the decision, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Naidu met President Pranab Mukherjee and briefed Vice-President Hamid Ansari, who is also Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. The Congress-led Opposition today reconveyed to the government it was against the provisions in the ordinance and the amendments effected to the Bill, currently with the Rajya Sabha.

In order to secure wider acceptance, the possibility of the government altering the consent clause that was done away earlier to a reduced percentage and a mechanism to assess social impact, is not ruled out. Yet, the sailing is not going to be smooth as the government is keen to counter the perception that the land acquisition ordinance is against the farmers and favours the corporate world. Social activist Anna Hazare, too, has lent his weight to the campaign against this legislative proposal. 

On Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke directly to the farmers, hard-selling the government viewpoint through his address on the radio. The government has time till end of May 8, when Parliament is scheduled to end the Budget session to find a way out.