BJP to discuss Land Acquisition bill in strategy meet

Facing a roadblock in the Rajya Sabha over the Land Acquisition Bill, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is set to discuss the way forward for the legislation during its strategy meet here, sources said.

The BJP's national executive is meeting here on Friday and Saturday, while office- bearers of the party met on Thursday.

Sources said a presentation will be made on the salient features of the land bill so that its strong points get highlighted.

It is also likely to find a mention in the resolutions passed by the party during the two-day national executive, a party leader said.

Talking about the possible ways ahead, a party leader said workers across the country will be involved in spreading the message that the bill is not anti-farmer.

The Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (Amendment) Bill, 2015, which will replace an ordinance promulgated by the government, is facing stiff opposition with even some allies coming out against the bill.

Unable to have the bill passed before the land acquisition ordinance lapses on April 5, the BJP-led government has now prorogued the Rajya Sabha and is likely to repromulgate the ordinance.

According to BJP sources, four senior ministers "Arun Jaitley, Rajnath Singh, Nitin Gadkari and M. Venkaiah Naidu" are talking to various stakeholders across the country to whip up support for the contentious Bill.