Mumbai : Union Shipping and Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari is playing troubleshooter for the Union Government and would be reaching out to Shiv Sena, which is opposing the Land Acquisition Bill.
Gadkari is expected to meet Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray and eminent Gandhian and anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare to discuss the issue and would try and clarify the doubts that they have raised. “I have been asked by the government to meet people who have raised issues about the bill and
I would be meeting them…most probably I would be meeting Uddhav today itself or at the earliest,” Gadkari told a news conference at the BJP office at Nariman Point here.
Gadkari, who had for some time also held the charge for Rural Development, said that it is in no way “anti-farmer” as being projected. “Let us not go
by presumption, let us
base our opinion on facts,” he said.
Asked whether the government has gone on the backfoot on this issue, Gadkari shot back in cricketing jargon: “”We are not on the back foot. We are on front foot. We are those who hit fours and sixes.” However, to a question, he said that the government would agree to “good suggestions”.
“People have some opinion, doubts, reservation on two broad issues – the consent clause and special impact assessment, we would hear them out,” the senior BJP leader from Maharashtra said.
He also said that he had a meeting with Swabhimani Shetkari Sangathana founder Raju Shetti, who had raised the issue in the Lok Sabha. “I am meeting people and explaining to them,” Gadkari said
pointing out at the host of documents that he is carrying.
The changes in the land acquisition act will be made after due consultation with all state governments.
State governments in Congress-ruled states too have recommended the changes and the changes that have been made are not anti-farmer, Gadkari said. “Contrary to the perception,
the changes would boost the development in the rural areas,” he added.
“We have made no compromises on compensation and rehabilitation,” he said while answering another question and added, “I feel, after knowing the truth our friends would not oppose the changes”.
