Land bill: Congress rebuts Nitin Gadkari claims, vows to stall it in House

Jairam Ramesh

A day after the Union cabinet gave its nod for repromulgation of the land ordinance, the war of words between the government and Opposition Congress intensified on Wednesday with former rural development minister Jairam Ramesh writing a rebuttal to Union minister Nitin Gadkari’s letter to Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

Gadkari had accused Sonia of misleading the country on the land bill. He had claimed that in the past one year, not a single acre has been acquired under the Land Act passed by UPA in 2013 for irrigation, power projects, rural roads and schools.

In response, Ramesh said: “Neither consent nor social impact assessment is required for acquisition for electricity, irrigation and national highways”.

Responding to Gadkari’s challenge to Gandhi for an open debate over the bill, Ramesh said the Congress has never objected to a debate or shied away from a public discourse. “Ironically, it (call for a debate) comes from a government that brought in these amendments under the cloak of darkness,” he said.

Later, addressing a press meet at Congress headquarters, Ramesh said the government chose to re-promulgate the ordinance with nine amendments despite farmer groups and majority of political parties opposing it. “On one hand, Gadkari talks about debate. On the other, his government is not ready to debate or hold consultations,” he said.

The Congress leader said the majority of the parties, which include the Congress, Left, Trinamool Congress, SP, BSP, JD(U), DMK, NCP and NDA constituent Shiv Sena, are opposed to the land bill and said the legislation would not get the nod of Rajya Sabha.

Stating that the Congress will oppose the changes in the Bill tooth and nail, he said it is a “non-negotiable” matter for the party. “It is a fundamental political issue, a make or break issue,” he added.

Source:: Indian Express