Govt unlikely to accommodate SJM concerns on land ordinance

After CIL employees' 'failed' strike, Centre is convinced of no meaningful opposition

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Narendra Modi government, convinced there will be few protests as people are tired of agitation-based politics, is unlikely to accommodate the Swadeshi Jagaran Manch’s (SJM’s) concerns over some “anti-farmer” measures in the land ordinance.

The Centre is of the view that a protest, if any, will likely meet the same fate as the Coal India (CIL) employees’ recent strike, which had ended after the second day.

SJM, economic wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), has opposed dilution of the social-impact assessment requirement for land acquisition and food security measures, and suggested the Modi government amend the ordinance. “I hope good sense will prevail on the government,” said SJM National Convenor Ashwani Mahajan.

The land acquisition Act passed during the tenure of the previous government had recently been tweaked through the ordinance.

Recently, the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, the trade union arm of RSS and the largest trade union in the country, had supported Coal India employees’ strike to oppose some contentious clauses in another ordinance. But the unions had called off the strike, originally meant to be a five-day one, on its second day. They unions were satisfied with the government’s word that Coal India was not going to be denationalised and its promise to appoint a high-level committee to look into the issues raised by the unions.

According to government managers, though, the real reason for withdrawal of the strike was lack of support on the ground. As much as 52 per cent of coal produced was lifted on the first day of the strike, and over 60 per cent on the second, they said. The government is convinced that there is little support for the agitation-style politics of the 1970s and ’80s.  Comparing it a year-long strike by British miners in 1984-85, government officials label the Coal India strike as a “failure”.

Government sources dismissed the possibility of amending the land ordinance, saying there was an urgent need for industrialisation, as people required development and job opportunities.  To ensure there is little opposition of the land ordinance provisions, the Centre has proposed states like West Bengal create industrial corridors of a kilometre each on both sides of national highways. It believes this will create enough job opportunities in rural and semi-urban areas in large parts of India.

SJM, however, points out that BJP had supported the previous government’s land acquisition Act. According to Mahajan, social impact assessment is an internationally accepted norm for any land acquisition. The Manch is hopeful its consultations with the government will eventually be successful and the Centre will agree to amend the ordinance.