Wrong on govt's part to claim consensus on Land Bill: Left

Left parties today contested the government's claim that there was a consensus on the Land Acquisition Bill, saying they are "not in agreement" with some of the basic provisions of the proposed legislation.
At the end of a meeting here this evening, the four Left parties -- CPI(M), CPI, RSP and Forward Bloc -- said the proposed law has left out 13 laws, including Indian Railways Act and National Highways Act, from the purview of the bill under which bulk of land acquisition takes place.
"It is wrong on the part of the government to claim that there is a consensus on the Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation & Re-settlement Bill.

"The Left parties are opposed to the definition of public purpose which includes also acquisition of land for private companies; there is no need for consent of those affected if land is acquired for government purposes; all the people affected like tenants, agricultural workers are not entitled to compensation; some of the provisions of the Bill are against the interests of adivasis," the Left leaders said in a joint statement.
Since the Bill presented now has been "totally changed" from the one which was considered by the Standing Committee, CPI leader A B Bardhan told reporters that the Left parties would demand that it be referred back to the Standing Committee or be taken up by a Joint Select Committee.

Condemning the attacks on Left workers in West Bengal, the statement said there were nation-wide protests after the custodial death of SFI leader Sudipta Gupta in Kolkata.

In the course of such a protest in Delhi, there was an "unfortunate" incident, involving West Bengal Finance Minister Amit Mitra, outside the Planning Commission's office, it said.
"Using this as a pretext, systematic and widespread attacks have been unleashed by the Trinamool Congress on the offices of the Left parties and their cadres and activists. More than a thousand offices have been damaged or destroyed. A situation is sought to be created where the functioning of the opposition parties is suppressed.

"Serious human rights violations are taking place. A 22-year-old student was arrested in Siliguri and kept in a hospital chained to his bed. The Presidency University was attacked by TMC goons," the statement said.