Land bill to be tabled in Lok Sabha today

The Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Amendment Bill, will be taken up in the Lok Sabha on Monday for consideration and passing.

The Land Acquisition Act, brought as an ordinance, amends the existing law passed by the former UPA regime in 2013. In the new version, the BJP-led NDA Government has removed the need for obtaining the consent of land-owners and carrying out Social Economic Assessment (SIA) for acquiring land under certain categories.

The government had earlier said that it was ready to deliberate on opposition suggestions and go the extra mile to prevent any injustice to farmers and to strengthen their hands.

The opposition parties, however, have strongly voiced their objections to the bill.

The Congress party even held a mega rally called 'Zameen Wapsi Andolan' at Jantar Mantar to oppose the Land Acquisition Ordinance.

Several other political parties including the Trinamool Congress (TMC), Shiv Sena and Lok Janshakti Party are opposed to the Land Acquisition Ordinance.

Social activist Anna Hazare had also launched a protest at the Jantar Mantar and criticized the ruling BJP over its promise of 'achhe din' during the Lok Sabha polls last year.