Left parties hit out at govt for repromulgating land ordinance

The CPI(M) and CPI also lashed out at the govt for not being "honest and truthful" to Parliament

Left parties today strongly condemned the re-promulgation of the controversial land acquisition Ordinance and demanded that it should be kept in abeyance till the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) submits its report and Parliament takes a position on the issue.

The CPI(M) and CPI also lashed out at the government for not being "honest and truthful" to Parliament and asked what the urgency was to reissue the ordinance when the legislation was being scrutinised by the JPC and the Prime Minister saying it was not a 'life and death question' for him.

"In the light of the Prime Minister's statement yesterday that the new land acquisition bill is not a 'life and death question' for him, this ordinance be kept in abeyance till the JPC submits its report and Parliament takes a considered position on this amended land acquisition Bill," the CPI(M) Politburo said in a statement.

Modi was recently quoted as saying: "this is not a matter of life or death for me. And neither was it the agenda of my party or the Government."

It said the re-issuing of this ordinance when the JPC was set up to examine the implications of the amendments proposed by the BJP government to the 2013 law was "particularly objectionable."

Accusing the Government of lacking sincerity and honesty, CPI said the government should not take Parliament for "granted".

"This Government is not truthful to Parliament. It is not truthful to the people. And we, as a party, oppose this Government's re-issuing of Ordinance. The legislation is already under scrutiny by the JPC. The Government should not take Parliament for granted," CPI National Secretary D Raja said.

President Pranab Mukherjee has given the nod to re- promulgate the controversial land ordinance, which could not be converted into law during the recently concluded Budget Session of Parliament, for the third time.