Apropos the report "Land acquisition law may be eased for PPP projects" (November 5). The danger hidden in the new surge of investor-friendly measures might be more serious than they are made out to be. Of course, it is widely accepted that the new land acquisition law was passed with little foresight, by a weak government that was propelled by the courts, media, civil society and perceived vote bank consideration. All political parties, including the Bharatiya Janata Party, had an eye on the impending Lok Sabha elections and didn't dare swim against the tide. It was an overkill, and that made it open to attack. Now, with the elections behind us, we are witnessing a multi-pronged reaction that wants to sacrifice all genuine social concerns to the cause of big-scale crony capitalistic opportunism. Forest and environmental laws, tribal rights, land and labour rights are all under attack. Banks are being coerced to be more liberal, meaning less careful.
Every civic right can't be left for the courts to protect. There is need to have a balanced position so that the common and poor people's rights and future environment are not shrugged aside, and that we find a way to have sustainability and equity along with gross domestic product growth.
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Every civic right can't be left for the courts to protect. There is need to have a balanced position so that the common and poor people's rights and future environment are not shrugged aside, and that we find a way to have sustainability and equity along with gross domestic product growth.
P Datta Kolkata
Letters can be mailed, faxed or e-mailed to:
The Editor, Business Standard
Nehru House, 4 Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg
New Delhi 110 002
Fax: (011) 23720201
E-mail: letters@bsmail.in
All letters must have a postal address and telephone number