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Land ordinance to be re-promulgated again

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loksabha

New Delhi: The Union Cabinet today recommended re-promulgation of the controversial Land Acquisition Ordinance.

The land ordinance will be issued for the third time.

The Ordinance was promulgated for the first time in December last year to amend the 2013 Act. Despite being passed in Lok Sabha, the government did not take it to Rajya Sabha as it lacked numbers there.

The Ordinance was re-promulgated in March this year and will lapse on June 4. The recommendation of the Union Cabinet will be sent to President Pranab Mukherjee for its approval.

The government, which had promulgated the ordinance twice on the bill since December after it faced continuous resistance especially in Rajya Sabha, where it does not have the numbers, had agreed to refer it to the committee, during the recently concluded Parliament session.

The first meeting of joint Committee of Parliament on the contentious land bill yesterday saw a number of Opposition members raising questions over the rationale of the government changing provisions of the 2013 land law.

Expressing dissatisfaction over the government’s arguments in favour of the bill, the members had demanded a “composite” inter-ministerial reply on the issue.

At the meeting, the Rural Development Ministry and Legislative department in the Law Ministry had made a presentation to members on the amendments made to the The Right To Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013.

As the officials of the two ministries explained the amendments, members from the Opposition parties including Congress, BJD, TMC and the Left had raised questions over the rationale of doing away with the consent clause while acquiring land.

While the 2013 law required that the consent of 80 per cent of land owners was obtained for private projects and that the consent of 70 per cent of land owners be obtained for PPP projects, the present bill exempts the five categories from this provision of the Act.

These categories include defence, rural infrastructure, affordable housing, industrial corridors and infrastructure projects including public private partnership (PPP) projects where the government owns the land.

The 2013 Act also required that a social impact assessment be conducted to identify affected families and calculate the social impact when land is acquired. This provision has been done away with.

(PTI)

Opposition creates uproar in Lok Sabha over land bill

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loksabha

New Delhi: The controversial land bill led to an uproar in Lok Sabha on the first day of the second phase of the Budget Session with a united opposition protesting the repromulgation of an ordinance on the issue.

Agitated members of Congress, Left, TMC, SP, RJD and others stormed the Well of the House as soon as Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Rajiv Pratap Rudy laid a copy of the Ordinance, promulgated by the President on April 3.

Opposition members raised slogans like “withdraw the bill” and “down with the anti-farmer government”, terming the re-promulgation of the ordinance as “murder of democracy”.

Top opposition leaders, including Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi of Congress and Mulayam Singh Yadav of SP, were present in the House.

Jyotiraditya Scindia, K C Venugopal and Gaurav Gogoi (all Cong), Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav (RJD) and Dharmendra Yadav (JD-U) were among several opposition members protesting in the Well.

Speaker Sumitra Mahajan sought to pacify the members, saying the bill was yet to be introduced and they could protest when that happens.

When her pleas went unheeded, she read out a statement hailing woman players, Saina Nehwal and Sania Mirza, for their “glorious achievments” in badminton and tennis respectively.

Amid the din, she asked External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to make a statement on the evacuation of Indian nationals from strife-torn Yemen.

As opposition members continued their protest, Mahajan adjourned the House till 2 pm.

The fresh ordinance, which is the 11th by the Narendra Modi government, incorporates nine amendments that were part of the bill passed in Lok Sabha last month.

The ordinance, which the government could not get converted into a legislation in the first half of the Budget Session due to stiff opposition in Rajya Sabha, was re-promulgated on April 3, a day before it was to lapse.

(PTI)

Concern for farmers as land bill being changed: Rahul Gandhi

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Rahul Gandhi

New Delhi: It is a matter of concern for farmers that the land bill is being changed, said Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi while addressing his first rally on Sunday after a leave of absence of nearly two months.

Gandhi spoke about the Land Acquisition Act 2013, brought in by the UPA government, and charged the NDA government of working in the interests of the rich.

“Land Acquisition Act 2013 is being changed …it’s also cause of concern for you,” he said, adding that the rest of industry came only after farming which laid the foundation of the country.

Speaking at the well-attended Kissan Khet Majdoor rally at Ramlila Maidan here, he said that the central government was anti-farmer and anti-poor as it can’t see “the efforts they made to establish the country”.

Gandhi said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was on a three-nation tour, made comments saying that he was clearing the mess of the last 50 years in the country.

“I feel sad to hear this as prime minister can’t see the efforts of the poor and the farmers who actually laid the foundation of the country,” he said.

Gandhi said that the poor and the farmers were feeling afraid under the present regime as they don’t know what’s going to happen to them next.

He also talked about how the UPA government worked for the poor and the farmers of the country.

“It’s a country of farmers and labourers,” he said.

(IANS)

Kannada actors among hundreds of farmers arrested for anti-Modi protest

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Photo Caption

Bengaluru: Veteran Kannada actor Leelavathi and her son, Vinod Raj, were arrested and later released by the city police as they tried to march with protesting farmers towards the hotel where Prime Minister Narendra Modi was put up for the BJP national executive in the city.

The farmers, led by Kodihalli Chandrashekar, had been on an indefinite fast for three days protesting against the ordinance passed by the Union government on the Land Bill Nine farmers have reported ill and are being treated at Bowring Hospital.

Ms. Leelavathi said that she had chosen to be a farmer and was appalled at the ordinance, which she termed “anti-farmer”, which prompted her to support the farmer’s agitation.

Mr. Vinod Raj said that in their village — Soladevanahalli, the Forest Department had been trying to evict farmers claiming the land belonged to it.

“We have been seeing the plight of the farmers for possession of their land; their lifeline has been threatened. So we have come to the streets to protest the new ordinance,” he said.

Along with them, hundreds of farmers were arrested and later released. Mr. Chandrashekar was critical that Mr. Modi did not meet any farmer delegation from the State.

(Agencies)

President gives nod to land ordinance

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Republic Day Pranab Mukherjee

New Delhi: The land acquisition ordinance, which the government could not get converted into a legislation in Rajya Sabha due to stiff opposition, was today re-promulgated, a day before it is to lapse.

President Pranab Mukherjee has signed the ordinance as recommended by the union cabinet on March 31, official sources said. The earlier ordinance is to lapse tomorrow as it has not been converted into a legislation during the first part of the budget session as required under the Constitution.

The fresh ordinance, which is the 11th by the Narendra Modi government, incorporates nine amendments that were part of the bill passed in Lok Sabha last month. It is pending before the Rajya Sabha where the ruling NDA coalition lacks the numbers to get it passed.

The pending measure, titled Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (Amendment) Bill, that was passed in Lok Sabha sought to replace the ordinance that was promulgated in December.

The Opposition was not in a mood to oblige the government and, in fact, mounted a strong campaign against it. Led by Sonia Gandhi, the Opposition parties demanded the passage of the original land bill that was passed during the UPA regime.

To enable re-promulgation of the ordinance, the government last week got the Rajya Sabha prorogued.

Under the Constitution at least one of the Houses has to be prorogued for Government to issue an ordinance. Parliament is currently on a month-long recess after the Budget session started on February 23.

The land ordinance was among the six executive orders issued by the government in the inter session period. While five of them were cleared by Parliament, the land measure is stuck.

(PTI)

Opposition rejects Land Bill, dubs govt move 'pro-corporate'

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india-parliament

New Delhi: Opposition in Lok Sabha today tore into the controversial Land Acquisition Bill, saying its “draconian” and “anti-poor” provisions would have a deleterious effect on India’s food security.

The Opposition members, ranging from the Congress and Trinamool Congress (TMC) to the Left, BJD and AIADMK, launched a tirade against the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (Amendment) Bill 2015, which was moved for consideration and passing by Rural Development Minister Birender Singh.

Several opposition members particularly opposed the NDA government’s move to do away with Section 2 and 3A of the existing land acquisition law which provided for social impact assessment before land transfer and safeguarding the interest of farmers.

Participating in the discussion, Jyotiraditya Scindia (Congress) said the law in its present form would allow private entities to take away multi-crop land, which will put at stake food security of the people of the country.

“Is the government trying to reduce this country to an importer of foodgrains? If this bill gets passed, farmers will give up all expectations from this country,” Scindia said.

Kalyan Banerjee (TMC) accused the government of taking away farmers’ rights and said his government will oppose the Bill “tooth and nail” to safeguard their interests.

“This government is for the corporates, this government is anti-poor, anti-farmers and will sell the country to industrialists,” Banerjee said.

Opposing the “draconian” provision, C N Jayadevan (CPI-M) said the rehabilitation and compensation as provided in the Bill would adversely affect the interest of farmers. The government has a clear intention to have a “pro-corporate and anti-farmer” land acquisition law, he said.

The Land Acquisition Bill, which seeks to replace an Ordinance issued in December to amend the Land Act 2013, was introduced in the Lok Sabha on February 24.

Along with the Bill, the House today took up a statutory resolution, moved by NDA partner Swabhimani Paksha and Opposition parties like Congress, CPI(M), TMC, RSP and BJD, disapproving it.

The amendments, among other things, seek to exempt social impact SURVEYS FOR land acquisition for five purposes including industrial corridor, rural infrastructure and housing for poor.

As the Minister moved the Bill for consideration, Leader of Congress Mallikarjun Kharge demanded that he should explain some provisions of the Bill before a discussion could be initiated. Singh, however, said he would speak only when he replies to the debate.

During the discussion, K N Ramachandran (AIADMK) dubbed some of the amendments as “ultra-reformist” and said his party had strong reservations against exempting land acquisition by private hospitals and private educational institutions.

Tathagata Satpathy (BJD) said the amendments were detrimental to the interests of the poor who would lose their land without compensation.

Accusing the government of not discussing with the opposition parties before going ahead with the amendments to the Land Act, Scindia said the NDA government’s slogan of ‘sabka sath, sabka vikas’ (support of all, development for all) has “fallen flat on the face as it was now ignoring the interest of farmers”.

65 per cent of India’s population was dependent on agriculture, but the government is only thinking about the corporates, the Congress leader said.

Citing earlier instances of several BJP members opposing dilution of the consent clause and no social impact assessment when the UPA was in power, Scindia said these members are now doing a “U-turn” and supporting the amendments to the Bill.

“Through the amendments, you have made the Bill look like a body ripping it of its flesh and blood,” he said, appealing to the members to vote against the amendments when the Bill comes up for passage tomorrow.

Under the amended law, the mandatory “consent” clause and Social Impact Assessment (SIA) will not be applicable if the land is acquired for five purposes.

The measure to replace the ordinance makes significant changes in the Land Acquisition Act including removal of consent clause for acquiring land for five areas — industrial corridors, PPP projects, rural infrastructure, affordable housing and defence.

The amendments bring 13 legislations, including those relating to defence and national security, to provide higher compensation and rehabilitation and resettlement benefits to farmers whose land is being acquired, under the Centre’s purview.

(PTI)

India witnessed rise in communal violence under Modi government, says Amnesty

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Trilokpuri-riots

Human rights group Amnesty International today criticised the Narendra Modi-led government, saying under the new regime India has witnessed a rise in communal violence and its Land Acquisition Ordinance has put thousands of Indians at “risk” of forcible eviction.

In its Annual Report 2015, released here, Amnesty highlighted poll-related violence in the lead up to the May 2014 General Elections, communal clashes and failure of consultation on corporate projects as key concerns.

“National elections in May saw a government led by the Bharatiya Janata Party come to power with a landslide victory. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who campaigned on promises of good governance and development for all, made commitments to improve access to financial services and sanitation for people living in poverty.

“However, the government took steps towards reducing requirements to consult with communities affected by corporate-led projects,” Amnesty said in its report.

The report highlighted that, “the authorities continued to violate people’s rights to privacy and freedom of expression. There was a rise in communal violence in Uttar Pradesh and some other states and corruption, caste-based discrimination and caste violence remained pervasive.”

In reference to communal violence, it noted that, “A string of communally charged incidents in Uttar Pradesh prior to elections led to an increase in tensions between Hindu and Muslim communities…Politicians were accused of and in some cases criminally charged with making provocative speeches.”

“…In December, Hindu groups were accused of forcibly converting several Muslims and Christians to Hinduism,” the report said.

The rights body also went on to single out the Land Acquisition Ordinance for criticism as it described the move as a new “risk” to thousands of Indians.

“In December, the government passed a temporary law which removed requirements related to seeking the consent of affected communities and assessing social impact when state authorities acquired land for certain projects,” it said.

“Thousands of people remained at risk of being forcibly evicted from their homes and lands for large infrastructure projects. Particularly vulnerable were Adivasi communities living near new and expanding mines and dams,” it added .

While the group recognised “progressive legal reform”, it was critical of India’s “overburdened and under-funded criminal justice system”.

Amnesty pointed out two court orders as important “gains” for India in 2014, including a Bhopal court’s decision in November to demand that its criminal summons against the Dow Chemical Company to be re-issued and a “landmark judgement” by the Supreme Court in April granting legal recognition to transgender people.

(PTI)

Congress to hold 'Zameen Wapsi Andolan' against Land Ordinance today

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zameen-wapasi

New Delhi: Demanding the withdrawal of the BJP government’s Land Ordinance which is being considered as anti-farmer, the Congress on Wednesday will hold a protest rally called ‘Zameen Wapsi Andolan’ at Jantar Mantar.

Top Congress brass, including president Sonia Gandhi’s political secretary Ahmed Patel, AICC general secretaries Digvijay Singh, Madhusoodhan Mistry, Ajay Maken, former Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh, Salman Khursheed, Jitender Singh, Raj Babbar, Deepinder Hooda, Sushmita Deb, will oppose the bill in public and hold a massive rally at around 12:00 noon.

“Congress is organising a mega rally, ‘Zameen Wapsi Andolan’, to oppose the BJP government’s draconian ordinance that intends to change the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act 2013 passed by the Congress government,” the party said in a release.

The party has also attempted for convergence of farmers from across the country to raise their voice in opposition to the ordinance.

“Senior leaders of Congress will be present to challenge this Ordinance. They will stand up for the 2013 law which was enacted by the UPA government to deliver equitable justice to the poor farmer and to empower the common man,” the AICC said.

Declaring that its opposition to the Land Acquisition Ordinance was non-negotiable, Congress attacked the BJP- led government for introducing the Bill in Lok Sabha on Tuesday to replace the ordinance despite three Union Ministers giving assurances suggesting that all stakeholders would be taken on board.

Party chief Sonia Gandhi at a strategy meeting in Parliament House in the morning yesterday had set the tone for the party’s tough stand on the land ordinance.

(Agencies)

Arvind Kejriwal, political leaders join Anna Hazare's protest on second day

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Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and MDMK chief Vaiko share stage with Anna Hazare at Jantar Mantar. (ANI Twitter photo)

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and MDMK chief Vaiko share stage with Anna Hazare at Jantar Mantar. (ANI Twitter photo)

New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today joined Anna Hazare on his second day of protest against the contentious land ordinance and shared the dais with the social activist.

Kejriwal was among a host of leaders cutting across party lines who joined the agitation on a day the government introduced the contentious land acquisition bill in Lok Sabha amid a walk out by the opposition.

Though Hazare had earlier ruled out sharing stage with any politician, political leaders including CPI’s Atul Anjan and Vaiko of MDMK were among those sitting on the dais.

Before beginning his protest today, Hazare said people from political parties were welcome to join the agitators but will not share the stage with him and made it clear that he would not allow any political colour to the agitation.

He accused the NDA government of not heeding to farmers’ interests.

Yesterday, Hazare had said a jail-bharo movement will be launched from the Ramlila Ground after carrying out “padyatra” across the country for three-four months.

Accusing the government of only caring for corporates, Hazare said he will not relent till government withdraws the controversial ordinance.

“The political parties are of the country only. And, people running the government are also from the country. The people who suffer injustice are also from this country. And, so if farmers are meted out injustice and if everyone comes together to fight injustice, then what is the problem,” Hazare told reporters.

(PTI)

Ruckus in Parliament over land acquisition bill, Opposition up in arms

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A file picture of Parliament House in New Delhi. Photo: V.V. Krishnan.

A file picture of Parliament House in New Delhi. Photo: V.V. Krishnan.

New Delhi: Ruckus erupted in Parliament on the second day of budget session as Opposition parties upped the ante against the government over a contentious land bill.

The Narendra Modi government will introduce the land acquisition amendment bill 2015 to replace the ordinance in Lok Sabha on Tuesday.

Before that, finance minister Arun Jaitley invoked the first Nehru government and said it introduced 77 oridinances, amid an uproar triggered by the Opposition in Rajya Sabha.

“Ordinances are bypassing Parliament is not a valid argument,” he said.

The Opposition has remained firm that the ordinance, along with five more, would not be allowed to go through Parliament. These ordinances would expire on March 20, if not passed during this budget session.

President Pranab Mukherjee had set the tone for the government to push for the tweaked land law on Monday amid resistance from the Opposition and rights groups, prompting the BJP to discuss ways to get the controversial legislation passed in Parliament.

The law has been suitably refined to protect farmers’ interests during land acquisition for crucial public projects, Mukherjee told a joint sitting of Parliament that launched the budget session.

“My government attaches paramount importance to safeguard the interest of farmers and families affected by land acquisition,” the President said, trying to allay fears the land act would benefit only industries without a consent clause from landowners which the Modi government had enacted through an ordinance.

The ruling coalition would introduce the bill to replace the land ordinance in Lok Sabha on Tuesday, where it enjoys a brute majority but the problem lie in Rajya Sabha.

Rural development minister Chaudhary Birender Singh will introduce the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (Amendment) Bill, 2015.

It will replace the ordinance promulgated by the government in December last year, which had brought changes in the earlier bill passed in 2013 by the UPA government.

The government had promulgated the ordinance making significant changes in the land act including removal of consent clause for acquiring land for five areas — industrial corridors, PPP projects, rural infrastructure, affordable housing and defence.

The Congress has already given a notice for suspension of question hour in the Upper House to discuss the ordinance. Party chief Sonia Gandhi said the President’s speech had nothing new but was a rehash of UPA policies.

The ruling BJP also has its hands full after rights activist Anna Hazare on Monday started a protest against the “anti-farmer” land law.

He got support from old associates Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia, the chief minister of Delhi and his deputy whose Aam Aadmi Party had routed the BJP in the national capital’s assembly polls. They will join Hazare in his protest on Tuesday.

“This is land grab by the government … This is what the British used to do. To cater to industrialists, how can you betray farmers?” Hazare said before his dharna at Jantar Mantar.

Given the heat generated by the land law before the NDA government’s presents its first full-year budget on February 28, fear mounted within the BJP of a possible Parliament washout in the face of the Opposition’s belligerent stand.

Barring Prime Minister Modi, top BJP leaders closeted on Monday evening to see if the bill to be place before Lok Sabha could be further refined to pacify the protesters.

There were hints that the government might consider the demands when Parliament debates the bill.

“We discussed all issues, including land acquisition. We discussed issues farmers have raised. Twenty-seven farmer organisations have met home minister Rajnath Singh,” Union minister Ananth Kumar said.

“We will consider what is on farmers’ minds. The Prime Minister has said at an all-party meet we will welcome suggestions.”

The prime objection to the land acquisition ordinance has been that it removed the need for written consent from 70% of landowners for joint public-private projects.

To make matters worse, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)-affiliated Bharatiya Kisan Sangh (BKS) has also raised objection to the ordinance, seeing in it a reason for the BJP’s drubbing in Delhi.

The government tried its hand to bring the Opposition on board as PM Modi said dialogue and discussion were an essential part of democracy and hoped for a positive outcome of the budget session.

He walked up to the opposition benches with folded hands after entering Lok Sabha on Monday morning — a first by the Prime Minister in almost nine months since taking charge.

Meanwhile, setting in motion the process of replacing ordinances relating coal mines, e-rickshaws and FDI in insurance with fresh bills, the government has listed for the withdrawal of old bills in Rajya Sabha.

Union ministers Arun Jaitley, Nitin Gadkari and Piyush Goyal will move for withdrawal of these bills.

The government is racing against time to convert the six ordinances into bills in the first part of the Budget session, which comes to an end on March 20.

The government will also introduce a bill in Lok Sabha to amend the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, which will replace the ordinance promulgated on the issue recently.

(Agencies)

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