Lok Sabha passes land bill; Shiv Sena abstains from voting, BJD, TRS walk out

NEW DELHI: The Lok Sabha on Tuesday passed the contentious Land Acquisition Bill after making nine official amendments (see graphic) to win over BJP allies such as Shiv Sena and Akali Dal. However, the manner in which the Congress-led Opposition persisted with their amendments and staged a walk-out was indicative of what awaited the government in the Upper House where it is in minority.

Before the bill was put to vote after a heated debate, Rural Development Minister Birender Singh proposed a fresh set of amendments. Whether industry and investors would be enthused by the amendments will be known only in the days to come.

Government mangers comprising Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu and Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari, along with Birender Singh, held negotiations with representatives of Shiv Sena and SAD, which saw the latter supporting the bill, though Sena abstained.

While the government accepted Opposition’s proposal for compulsory employment to at least one member from affected families of a ‘farm labourer’, amendments to consent clause and social impact assessment were rejected.

Replying to the debate, Birendra Singh dismissed as “politically motivated and baseless” the Opposition’s contention that the bill would adversely affect interests of farmers. “I know the Congress party very well. Congress has been always interested in throwing skeletons before farmers to make sure they manage to survive. By bringing the bill, my party and our government want to make sure farmers get a chance to progress and be part of the overall development of the country,” the minister said. Objecting to allegations from his former colleagues, belonging to Congress, that despite being the grandson of legendary farmers’ leader Sir Chottu Ram, the minister had introduced an “anti-farmer bill”, Singh said, “I will be the last one to do anything that affects the interests of farmers”.