I/III. http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/land-acquisition-bill-again-moved-in-lok-sabha/article7193179.ece
Updated: May 11, 2015 13:43 IST Land acquisition Bill again moved in Lok Sabha SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT The Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (Amendment) Second Bill, 2015, was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Monday despite a stiff opposition from a number of parties, which questioned the need to amend the 2013 law even before it has been tested properly. When the Bill will be taken up for discussion is unclear even as Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidu indicated that a middle ground was being attempted in consultation with other parties. He did not spell it out, but the government is considering referring the Bill to a joint committee of both Houses to avoid the Rajya Sabha referring it to a Select Committee. If it is sent to a standing committee in the Lok Sabha, then the Rajya Sabha can still insist on a Select Committee reference. But if it is put to a joint committee, then the Rajya Sabha - where the government is in a minority - cannot refer it to a Select Committee. Various arguments were put forth by the opposition against the introduction of the Bill that seeks to replace the second ordinance promulgated in four months to amend the land acquisition law enacted in 2013 with near-unanimous support, including the BJP. While the Congress, Trinamool Congress, BJD and the CPI(M) were one in describing the new Bill as anti-farmer and pro-corporate, some of them also raised procedural issues. B. Mahtab (BJD) wanted to know how the Minister could bring in the second Bill when the status of the first Bill passed by the Lok Sabha in March was unknown. "It is like a trishanku," he said; an argument later echoed by Mallikarjun Kharge (Congress). Calling it a "land grab Bill'', M.B. Rajesh (CPI-M) said the government created an extraordinary situation by proroguing the Rajya Sabha to repromulgate the ordinance that is now being replaced by the new Bill. N. K. Premachandran (Revolutionary Socialist Party) questioned the legality of the Bill on the premise that it was identical to the one passed by the Lok Sabha in March. Seeking permission to introduce the Bill, Union Rural Development Minister Birender Singh's claim that both the Bills were with him triggered a row as members sought to remind him that technically a draft legislation introduced in Parliament remains its property till cleared by both Houses. After both sides had their say, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan put the matter to vote and the Bill was introduced. II/III. http://www.firstpost.com/politics/controversial-land-bill-introduced-in-lok-sabha-congress-tmc-aap-and-left-stage-walkout-2238066.html Controversial land bill introduced in Lok Sabha: Congress, TMC, AAP and Left stage walkout May 11, 2015 14:27 IST New Delhi: The controversial Land Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Monday 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. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidu. PTIParliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidu. PTI 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. PTI III. http://ibnlive.in.com/news/modi-government-to-send-land-acquisition-bill-to-joint-panel-of-lok-sabha-rajya-sabha-members/544971-37-64.html Modi government to send Land Acquisition Bill to joint panel of Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha members Aatish Shrivastva, CNN-IBN @ibnlivepolitics New Delhi: In order to avoid embarrassment in Parliament, the Narendra Modi government on Monday planned to send the controversial Land Acquisition Bill to a joint panel of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha members. The move came after the government realised that it does not enjoy majority in the Rajya Sabha and the Bill would be defeated, said sources. Any recommendations made by the joint panel will be binding on both Houses. The Bill will be deliberate on changes, if any, and will be brought in the Monsoon season of Parliament. Earlier the Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha 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. (With additional information from PTI) -- Peace Is Doable -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Green Youth Movement" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send an email to [email protected]. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/greenyouth. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
