Land Acquisition Ordinance: Govt. trying to please corporates, alleges Congress

Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday said it is extremely unfortunate that the BJP-led government issued the Land Acquisition Ordinance without consulting anybody, and added this shows that the Centre is trying to please the corporates.

"They have already issued the ordinance without consulting anybody and we stand that the earlier action should be implemented. It is unfortunate that the government immediately, after the session is over, they issued the ordinance," Kharge told the media here.

"It means that they are with the corporates. They are with the companies just to please them, to get more investment in the name of this Land Acquisition Act," he added.

Kharge said the Land Acquisition Ordinance is not in the interest of the farmers.

"It is not good what they have issued. So, we are jointly fighting and all others are also agreeing on the same point. So, we will take that issue when it comes up in the Parliament," he added.

The Congress leader further said that his party would very soon decide on extending support to veteran social activist Anna Hazare, who will sit on a protest at the Jantar Mantar here against the ordinance on Land Acquisition Bill.

"I can say that Anna Hazare is supporting our Act because this Act has enacted earlier and we expressed our reservation for this. Therefore, it is the good thing. Anna Hazare is also taking the same thing," he added.

Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu earlier in the day said that he has sought the Congress' cooperation for smooth functioning of the Parliament ahead of the Budget Session.

"I apprised Congress president of the need to allow the Parliament to function and sought the cooperation of Congress. The Congress president told me that they are also interested in allowing the Parliament to function but they have some issues they would want to raise," Naidu told ANI here.

Naidu further said that the government is willing to discuss any issue raised by the opposition.

The Budget Session of Parliament began today with President Pranab Mukherjee's address to members of both the houses of Parliament.

The Budget Session contains 44 items of financial, legislative and non-legislative business.