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In a major climbdown, the BJP led NDA members moving amendments in the Joint Committee of Parliament seeking to bring back key provisions of UPA's land law including on the consent clause and social impact assessment by dropping the changes brought by Modi Government in December last year and subsequently revalidated by Ordinance thrice. This can be considered as first major setback for NDA, particularly PM Modi since the government had stuck to its stand to dilute the land acquisition provisions in the existing land law.
This disrupted most of the budget session of Parliament and eventually forced the government to refer the bill to a parliamentary committee. The committee is now expected to submit a consensus report by 7 August to Parliament.
“The government had proposed nine amendments and they have rolled back six,” as per sources
One of the amendments that is said to be dropped is associated with the scrapping of the consent clause that was a key element of the 2013 land law shepherded by the previous Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government through Parliament in 2013.
That law, passed by Parliament in 2013, replaced an 1894 land acquisition act that was seen as anti- farmer and anti-industry at the same time.
The consent clause in the 2013 law mandated that those acquiring land get the assent of 70% farmers for public-private partnerships and 80% for private projects.. This was removed by the NDA to accommodate concerns of industry that the process of acquisition would be drawn out. It will now be reinstated.
Another key clause that has been reinstated is on social impact assessment. Industry believed this delays the process of acquisition. The NDA removed this in its version of the bill.
Another amendment sought to dilute stringent provisions that sought to punish officials for any malpractices during acquisition of land.
"Public pressure and a united opposition may have forced the govt. to withdraw these amendments" as speculated by experts considering the continuous parliament deadlock in the monsoon session.
As per news reports,The NDA itself was divided on the changes, BJP allies Shiv Sena and Republican Party of India (Athawale) had told the government that they would vote against the bill. There was pressure from another ally, the Shiromani Akali Dal, which wanted the government to address the perception that the bill undermined the interests of farmers.
Members of the BJP were also under pressure from the Swadeshi Jagran Manch, Bharatiya Kisan Sangh, Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, all affiliates of their party’s ideological parent, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. These organizations had repeatedly asked the government to drop the controversial amendments. As per sources, change in strategy may also be adopted to strengthen its position in assembly elections happening soon in the agrarian state of Bihar and the BJP may be averse to the idea of being seen as "anti-farmer", a charge Opposition had been making against the BJP.
Apart from Congress, which wanted restoration of UPA's 2013 Act, parties like Left, SP, JDU, BSP, BJD were also opposing the amendments strongly.
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Image Courtsey:Newsnation
News Source- PTI
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