JOIN USA united Opposition on Tuesday attacked the Modi government for opting for the ordinance route to enact laws, particularly the Land Acquisition Law. The Centre also faced some friendly fire as NDA constituent PMK criticised the move to promulgate ordinances on key issues.
The Congress said it would challenge the ordinance during the upcoming Budget Session of Parliament. Leaders cutting across party lines described the Modi government’s move to amend the Land Acquisition Law as “anti-farmer, unjust and deeply disturbing”. Reaching out to other political parties, the Congress said “all parties who are pro-farmer must come together to oppose it”.
Former Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh termed the government decision as “deeply disturbing”. “Dilution of the law will open doors for forcible acquisition, excess acquisition and diversion of land owned by farmers,” he said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said changes in the law were required to ensure faster processing without compromising on compensation or relief and rehabilitation measures for farmers.
TMC leader and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said her party would fight the ordinance. “We will fight against the ‘black’ and ‘unjust’ ordinance on land acquisition by burning symbolic copies of it,” she said in Kolkata.
BJP ally and PMK founder S Ramadoss slammed the “backdoor entry” by the NDA government, saying the changes will affect crores of farmers in the country.