Did not want to join ‘sin’ of deceiving farmers: Shiv Sena on Land Bill

BJP ally Shiv Sena said that it does not believe in snatching farmers’ lands without their consent. (Source: Indian Express archive)

The Shiv Sena on Thursday said that it abstained from voting for the Land Acquisition Bill in Lok Sabha, since it did not want to be the part of the ‘sin’ of deceiving farmers by snatching their land without their consent.

“They (the BJP) had to work hard to get the Bill passed in Lok Sabha despite having the requisite numbers. We stood by our promise of not backing the Bill and thus abstained from voting,” the Shiv Sena said in the editorial of its party mouthpiece ‘Saamana’.

“We are in alliance with the government in Maharashtra as well as in the Centre, yet we opposed (the Bill) because we do not believe in pretence,” it said. “The Sena will never take part in this sin of asking votes from farmers by showing them dreams, making tall promises to them and (then) snatching their land without their consent once voted to power,” it added.

However, Sena also added that its staunch backing for farmers should not be construed as their opposition to development of the country. “Development will lead to a better economy and thus industrial growth will accelerate. But this should not be done at the cost of farmers’ lives,” said the Sena.

The Sena also alleged that attempts are being made deliberately to shift the base of important businesses from the country’s financial capital to other parts. “Forcefully taking away important offices, the diamond market and other companies will not benefit anybody,” the Sena said.

Incidentally, in February, the Gujarat Government took an ambitious decision to establish a new city in Surat called Diamond Research and Mercantile (DREAM) city, which is perceived by some as a bid to shift Mumbai’s diamond business.

Source:: Indian Express