New Delhi : Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh said the opposition is free to give suggestions in Parliament if it thinks that the Land acquisition Bill is not good for farmers. “There is nothing against the farmers in this bill. This government is working and making projects for farmers. This government is for the farmers, villagers and poor people. If they think this bill is not good for the farmers, they’re free to give suggestions in Parliament,” said Singh.
The Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in LandAcquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Amendment Bill, will be taken up in the Lok Sabha today for consideration and passage. The Land Acquisition Act, brought as an ordinance, amends the existing law passed by the former UPA regime in 2013. In the new version, the BJP-led NDA Government has removed the need for obtaining the consent of land-owners and carrying out Social Economic Assessment (SIA) for acquiring land under certain categories.
The government had earlier said that it was ready to deliberate on opposition suggestions and go the extra mile to prevent any injustice to farmers and to strengthen their hands. The opposition parties, however, have strongly voiced their objections to the bill.
