Mamata indicates opposition to Land Acquisition Bill

Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday indicated her opposition to the proposed legislation on land acquisition, asking why it has not been placed before Parliament as yet.

“Why has it not been tabled in Parliament so far?,” Banerjee, whose Trinamool Congress has led protests against land acquisition in West Bengal for various industrial and IT projects, sought to know when confronted by reporters.

Replying to questions on the proposed Bill being passed by the Union Cabinet, Mamata said detailed discussions were held on the matter with UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi during which she asserted that no decision could be taken "without our consent".

"If there is a dispute, we will not acquire land forcibly. If people give their land, then we will purchase it," Banerjee said, while rejecting charges that Railways was acquiring land forcibly. She also accused the Left Front government in West Bengal of "misleading the people" on the issue.