Land Acquisition Bill introduced by the government in Lok Sabha

NEW DELHI: The Narendra Modi government spent most of its energy in Parliament on Tuesday countering the opposition and NDA ally Shiv Sena on the Land Acquisition Bill, which it introduced in the Lok Sabha amid a walkout and agreeing to the demand in the Rajya Sabha that all parties should be consulted before the proposed legislation is discussed in the House.

The government was also at the receiving end in the Upper House — where the NDA is in a minority — when the Opposition thwarted its move to withdraw three Bills it had introduced in the winter session.

As a face-saver, the government “deferred” the motion to withdraw The Insurance Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2008; The Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Bill, 2014; and The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2014.

Rural Development Minister Chaudhary Birendra Singh introduced The Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (Amendment) Bill, 2015 in the Lok Sabha. He also withdrew the Ordinance on the issue. However, the Opposition staged a walkout in protest.

However, it was in the Rajya Sabha that the government found itself on the back-foot on the Land Bill. Congress had given a notice for suspension of Zero Hour to discuss the issue. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, also Leader of the House, maintained that once the Bill is passed in the Lok Sabha it will come up for discussion in the Upper House and hence there was no need for a debate now. Congress, TMC, Left parties, SP, BSP and JD (U) did not relent and emphasised the amendments are “anti-farmer” and there is no need for the Bill.

They also criticised the ordinance on the matter. The Opposition demanded that they had not been consulted before bringing this Bill, forcing Jaitley to concede he will convey this sentiment to the concerned minister and government will consult all parties.

Though NDA allies have not opposed the Land Bill inside the House till now, Shiv Sena boycotted a meeting of MPs of the coalition to discuss the Bill and said it has “certain problems” with the amendments. Raju Shetty of the Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatan, another NDA ally, has given in writing to the government that he is opposed to the new Bill.