Paswan attacks parties opposing land bill

Union Food and Civil Supplies Minister Ramvilas Paswan on Friday attacked the opposition for unnecessarily opposing the land acquisition act.

"I really see no reason for these political parties to oppose the land acquisition act. The prime minister has already explained it in detail and we fully support it," said Paswan, who heads the Lok Janshakti Party, at a press conference here.

"Why Congress and other parties are protesting against it? I don't understand as this land acquisition act would be very beneficial for farmers as they will get much higher price for their land if sold to any of the government institutes," he said.

"The political parties are only doing it for political purposes. I don't see any farmer protesting or opposing it," he added.

Paswan also said that the deadline for implementing the Food Security Act has been extended by another six months. "The government has decided to extend the deadline by six months so that the states can implement the act," he told reporters here.

The National Food Security Act, passed during the UPA government's tenure, seeks to provide highly subsidised foodgrain to the poor.

The deadline, already extended twice, was to now end on April 4. So far only 11 states have implemented it.