Govt committed to Land Ordinance, open to suggestions: Naidu

Stating that NDA government is committed to the Land Acquisition Ordinance, Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu today said they are open to considering meaningful suggestions from Opposition on it.

"As far as Land Acquisition Ordinance is concerned, the government is committed to it. But, if meaningful suggestions come (from political parties), definitely they will be considered and we are there to protect the interests of farmers," Naidu told reporters here.

The government is open to discuss if there are meaningful suggestions. They (Opposition) should think in larger interest of the country, he said.

"The Union Ministers are holding discussions with various parties and I have also spoken to Andhra Pradesh and Telangana Chief Ministers seeking their support for the Land Acquisition Bill and they are positive.

"I am talking to other political parties also and at the end of the day I am confident that everybody will think correctively in the larger interest of the country and support the Land Acquisition Bill," Venkaiah said.

The Budget Session of Parliament will be taking up six Ordinances from tomorrow, including Land Acquisition, to convert them into Bills in the coming days, he said.

The Ordinances on Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2015, Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Ordinance, Ordinance on Insurance Bill and Coal Ordinance and E-rickshaw Bill were issued but could not be passed, the Parliamentary Affairs Minister said.

"The Coal Ordinance is also a very important legislation because it is helping the country and already it has got over 1 lakh crore from auction of 18 mines and we have 204 mines to be auctioned. It is the most honest and transparent method of coal blocks," he said.