NCP's policy on Land Acquisition Bill in accordance with opposition's stand: Majid Memon

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Majid Memon on Tuesday said that his organisation's policy on the Land Acquisition Bill is along the lines of the stand taken by other opposition parties, adding that the ordinance contains certain provisions which are not to their agreement.

"The Land Acquisition Bill contains certain provisions to which even our NCP does not agree. And therefore it is likely to be discussed in Rajya Sabha, and I am sure with combined opposition, the Government will not be able to get the bill through. The NCP's policy is also on the lines of all the opposition," Memon said.

"There are certain flaws which are anti-farmer, anti- land dealers, therefore, we also, other than Sharad Pawar has told us yesterday that when this bill comes up we shall be opposing it from the point of view of the interest of the farmers. Broadly, the policy of NCP has been that it is not the land- acquirer, be it the government or be it some industrialist for the purpose of development, on whose side we should be leaning," he added.

Memon further said that the land- acquirer is a rich person and one who gives land must be fully protected.

Meanwhile, Congress Party president Sonia Gandhi and former prime minister Manmohan Singh are likely to lead a march later in the day, starting from the Parliament House to the Rashtrapati Bhavan, to protest against the bill.

Along with the Congress, leaders of the Janata Dal (United), Trinamool Congress, Samajwadi Party, CPI (M), DMK and the INLD, among others, will also reportedly participate in the protest.

Opposition parties have united over the contentious bill, claiming that it is an anti-farmer legislation.

Leaders of these parties are expected to submit a memorandum against the new land bill to President Pranab Mukherjee.

Meanwhile, the NDA Government proposes to have another round of discussion with the opposition before moving it in Rajya Sabha.

Earlier this month, the Lok Sabha passed The Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (Amendment) Bill, 2015 amid a walkout by opposition parties even as the government moved nine amendments to address concerns raised by farmers.

Shiv Sena, an ally of the Bharatiya Janata Party, abstained during the voting.

The proposed legislation removes the need for obtaining consent of land-owners and carrying out social impact assessment (SIA) for acquiring land under certain categories-precisely the provisions which had raised the heckles of critics.

The bill faces a tough call in the Rajya Sabha where the government is in a minority.

The bill will replace an ordinance promulgated by the government in December last year which amended the earlier law passed by the Congress-led UPA in 2013.