With an aim of ensuring that the message about Land Acquisition Bill reaches out to masses, Union Minister Jairam Ramesh today explained to Congress spokespersons the benefits of the "historic" legislation.
The Rural Development minister told them that the UPA government was the first to come up with such a comprehensive Bill even though all parties made the promise in the last 40 years.
Congress is keen to make the land owner a partner in development through this Bill, he said.
Sources said Ramesh termed as "catalyst" the atrocities committed on the people of Bhatta, Parsaul and Achcheypur in Uttar Pradesh two years ago during land acquisition.
What made the process worse for those affected families, was the humiliation of having had their land taken from them at low prices and being resold for a much higher price, he reportedly said in the meeting.
It was party's Vice-President Rahul Gandhi's personal intervention to assist farmers which set in motion the process which produced the Bill, according to sources.
Ramesh addressed party leaders as part of exercise to educate them on the positive aspects of the Bill, which has been rechristened as Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Bill.
