Controversial land bill introduced in LS, as Oppn walks out

The controversial Land Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha today amid strong protests from the Opposition which termed the legislation 'anti-farmer', as members of Congress and some other parties staged a walkout.

The bill was tabled after Speaker Sumitra Mahajan rejected the contention of parties like Congress, TMC, BJD and Left parties and others, that the measure was "pending" in the Rajya Sabha and questioning its introduction.

In her ruling, the Speaker said "there is no bill identical to the one being proposed that is pending" and put the introduction of the bill for voting of the House.

Before the voting on its introduction, agitated Congress members along with those from TMC, AAP and Left parties staged a walk-out. Some of the slogan-shouting members were also seen displaying placards against the bill.

After the voting, the 'Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (Amendment) Second Bill, 2015' was introduced by Rural Affairs Minister Birender Singh.

Amid the ruckus, Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said the government was not going to pass the Bill today but was only introducing it."This is a pro-farmer legislation," Naidu said eliciting strong protests from the Opposition benches.

If the Opposition goes on making political comments and criticise, the government cannot sit watching, he said. "What is bull dozing... we (government) want to take the majority view. We have some suggestions (in the Bill)," he said.

Maintaining that the Opposition's acts were "very unfair", Naidu also requested the Speaker to take note of members displaying placards inside the House.

In between, Mahajan tried to pacify the protesting members and said that she would not be able to listen if they kept on shouting. With the agitation continuing, she was also heard saying that let the members take class for me.

Raju Shetti of Swabhimani Paksha party, which is an ally of the NDA government, also opposed the Bill saying the consent clause has been diluted.

Earlier, Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge alleged that the government was serving the interests of capitalists and corporates and said the Bill was not in the interests of farmers.

Kharge said the Speaker has discretion but those powers should be used "judiciously" and urged her not to allow the introduction of the Bill.

B Mahtab (BJD) asked the government why the Bill is being introduced again and wondered where was the earlier Bill in this regard if it was not pending, as he demanded an answer from the government. "We have serious objections to the present Bill," he said.

Countering Mahtab's contentions, Birender Singh said both the earlier Bills were with him as he is in charge of the concerned department.

Saugata Roy (TMC) said the Bill was against the interests of farmers and claimed that some clauses including those related to consent, social impact assessment and food security, had been removed. He said everyone who is for the interests of farmers should oppose the Bill.

Emphasising that it was a matter of principle for his party to protect the interest of farmers, he said the TMC was opposed to any proposal that would benefit the big corporates.

Voicing his opposition, N K Premachandran (RSP) said introduction of the new Bill would violate provisions of the Constitution and Rules of Procedures.

"A Bill never lapses... it lapses only when the House is dissolved. Only an ordinance lapses," he said. Noting that the Bill cannot be introduced, he also demanded a ruling from the Speaker on the matter.

M B Rajesh (CPI-M) said there are widespread protests and serious concerns expressed over the Bill, which would lead to corporates grabbing land from farmers.

The entire process of promulgation and re-promulgation of ordinance and then bringing the Bill was in violation of Constitutional provisions, he said while expressing his vehement Opposition.