Land bill: Congress hits out at government for notification route

The Congress today welcomed the change in the 13 Central laws bringing the compensation and rehabilitation under these acts at par with the 2013 Land Acquisition act but attacked the “notification” route  adopted by the NDA government. Congress senior leader and former Rural Development minister Jairam Ramesh today hit out at the NDA government saying,  “The notification issued last night is illegal as per the law ministry. However we are for the 13 amendments as these were part of the 2013 Land act but this should have been done through Parliament.”

Reiterating the Congress stance, Ramesh said, “We feel that this notification is an insult to parliament. Parliament is being bypassed. The government did not fulfill their responsibility earlier and is now issuing this notification.”  Clarifying the Congress’ position, the former Rural Development minister said, “The substance of the notification is not in dispute it is the manner which is illegal. The Law ministry is of the view the notification is untenable, so who goes to court I cannot say.”  The party maintains that the government should have gone in for the Ordinance route and then got it ratified by Parliament in the next session.  

Section 105 of the 2013 Land Act made it incumbent for the 13 Central laws related to Highways, railways, power sector etc. to be amended by December 2014 so that the acquisition provisions under it could be at par with the 2013 UPA’s Land acquisition act.

Levelling charges of laxity on the government Ramesh said, “For seven months the government was sleeping then they brought in an ordinance. They should have amended the 13 laws in time. ”   

According to the former Union minister the Law ministry was not in favour of the notification route but the Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi wanted this route. Ramesh emphasised, “This shows the mind set of the government that it always wants to bypass the parliament of the country. In spite of the law ministry advising against the notification the government went ahead.”  

Responding to queries on the upcoming Bihar polls, Ramesh said, “We are fighting the Bihar elections in a coalition. On the one hand the Prime Minster speaks about repackage and package but the reality is that the BJP is looking and seeking a communal flare up in Bihar. The first jolt Narendra Modi got in Delhi and now PM will get another jolt in Bihar.”