Land Bill: Modi on backfoot

Land Bill: Modi on backfoot
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Highlights

In a political setback to the ambitious Modi-Shah designs, the Government is all set to withdraw \"all the amendments\" to the proposed Land Bill that is rocking the NDA ever since it began to push the Bill. This \"willingness\" of the Government was leaked to the media soon after the imbroglio in the Lok Sabha saw suspension of some Congress MPs amid ruckus on Monday.

New Delhi: In a political setback to the ambitious Modi-Shah designs, the Government is all set to withdraw "all the amendments" to the proposed Land Bill that is rocking the NDA ever since it began to push the Bill. This "willingness" of the Government was leaked to the media soon after the imbroglio in the Lok Sabha saw suspension of some Congress MPs amid ruckus on Monday.


It is said that the decision to withdraw the amendments was being taken up following the recommendations of the parliamentary committee which is looking into it. So the social impact study clause would be back - as originally incorporated by the UPA-II in 2013.


Instead, the Government would now leave it to the individual States to make their own laws. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was keen that the Land Bill in the shape he wanted it to be passed for the development of infrastructure in the country. He has been warning the nation that unless the Bill is passed, his ‘Make in India’ plans could not take off.


The largely industry-oriented Bill that Modi government wanted to push through had no place for public opinion in it. It also wanted to exempt at least five categories of industries, including industrial corridors and defence corridors from the clause of consent of 80 percent affected people.


The Bill sailed through the Lok Sabha comfortably enough for the BJP but got stuck in the Rajya Sabha where the Opposition has an upper hand. The opposition was firm on blocking the passage of the Bill as it wanted to teach a lesson to the bull-dozing attitude of the BJP.


The Joint Committee of Parliament examining the controversial land acquisition bill had been given a fresh extension till the first week of August to submit its report. This was the second extension granted on the request of the committee. Its recommendations were to be tabled on the first day of the Monsoon session.


Initially the panel wanted to submit the report before July 27. The panel headed by S S Ahluwalia (BJP) met regularly to seek the opinion of various political parties and groups. As a consensus eluded, it was felt that the Committee could seek another extension.


However, caught in a political logjam, the BJP leadership seems to have decided to let go on this one to isolate the Congress leadership completely in Parliament to allow it to pass other important Bills like the GST Bill, which are still pending. It is said that it perhaps did not want to re-promulgate the ordinance once again only to cut a sorry figure. The ordinance was promulgated for the third time on May 31.


By:W Chandrakanth

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