Understanding the Land Acquisition Bill: Politics, changes and impact
It is hard to believe before the UPA Government brought the amendments to the Land Acquisition Law in 2013 that we were following the so-called The Land Acquisition Act, 1894, a 120-year-old legislation. The 1894 Land Act begins with “Whenever it appears to the Government the land in any locality is needed or is likely to be needed for any public purpose or for a company, a notification to that effect shall be published in the Official Gazette…”
My sincere thanks goes to the UPA Government led by the Congress, which brought in these changes with equal credit to the opposition, mainly the Bhartiya Janata Party for getting rid of that draconian law.
The Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (Amendment) Ordinance, 2014, signed by the President of India on the last day of 2014 is the doing of the present National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government, and it lists the amendments to the Act passed by the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government in 2013: The Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013.
The Narendra Modi Government has brought out some key changes in the LAB, which in their opinion were fundamental to the overall growth and development of the country as a whole, keeping in mind the benefit of villagers, farmers and more importantly farm labourers. Many political parties have come together, particularly for political reasons to corner the NDA Government and are agitating against it, calling the Bill and the Government, anti-farmer.
Our beloved modern Gandhi, the serial agitator Anna Hazare also doesn’t like the changes that have been made to the UPA Act. Before we delve into why this is so, it is important to first list precisely what the reservations are and more importantly, what the changes are and how it is going to impact farmers or villagers.
Main Acquisitions
Serial social activist. Anna Hazare started his agitation against the changes brought to the LAB through ordinance by the NDA Government at the Jantar-Mantar in New Delhi. Sitting on a day-long fast Anna Said ‘पीएम मोदी ने अच्छे दिनों का वादा किया था, इसलिए लोगों ने उन्हें वोट दिया। हालांकि, ऐसा हुआ नहीं। अच्छे दिन सिर्फ पूंजीपतियों के आए हैं। (“PM Modi promised good days ahead, that is why people voted him. But it did not happen. Good days are only for capitalists.”)
The main points of opposition by Anna and other political parties include:
- Land Acquisition Bill is undemocratic and anti-farmer.
- How can Government cheat farmers to pass benefits to businessmen and industrialists?
- This Government is planning to snatch land in the same fashion as the British.
- What was the need for an Ordinance when the Bill was already passed in 2013?
- Very few farmers have knowledge about the bill, they need to be educated.
I totally agree with the last reservation. People do need to know the reality about the changes brought in through the ordinance which is also now being debated in the Upper House of Parliament to be passed as an Act. Let us examine the key changes brought in by the NDA Government in the Bill passed by the UPA Government one by one.
Key Changes and their Impact
1. Consent Clause: The first proviso of sub-section (2) of section 2 in the UPA version of the Act has a requirement of the prior consent of at least 80 per cent of those affected families before acquiring land. For public-private-partnership projects (PPP), prior consent has to be of at least 70% of those affected families.
Change: The NDA amendment proposes that for projects relating to (i) National security or defense, (ii) Rural infrastructure including electrification; (iii) Affordable housing for poor people; (iv) Industrial corridors; and (v) Social infrastructure and PPP projects where government holds the land, there is no longer any need to obtain prior consent.
Defence: This is a major change. But is it anti-farmer? Is National security not of prime importance? The Government has brought this change looking at the national security aspect. The country needs to be independent in this matter. Today millions of our heard earned money from the public exchequer goes to other countries in importing the latest arms and ammunition. Should Government inform citizens and take their consent if it plans to put a strategic nuclear plant in some area? No. I also believe that if our farmers come to know that their land is being used for defence purposes, they would only feel proud.
Rural infrastructure including electrification and housing for poor: Infrastructure and social infrastructure projects, including those under public private partnership where ownership of the land vests with the Governments. This is bound to benefit the entire country, particularly the people in rural areas where infrastructure and social infrastructure is inadequate. The Narendra Modi Government came to power on its promise to people to provide irrigation facility to each agricultural land, a house to each family with drinking water facility and 24 hours electricity, and good roads to provide better connectivity. Does this change in law which will help Government execute these projects and fulfil promises made to our villagers is anti-farmer? Don’t our villagers deserve a better life?
Industrial corridors and PPP Projects: There are confusions created among people for political reasons. People should know that the Industrial Corridors are not created by capitalists and businessmen. They participate once the corridors are designed. Government will create the industrial corridors and before taking the land, the district magistrate will have to confirm in writing who in the family is going to get a job of what scale before any acquisition takes place.
Almost all the exempted purposes benefit rural India. They would enhance the value of land, create employment and provide rural areas with better infrastructure and social infrastructure in addition to the enhanced compensation. PM Modi on ‘Man ki Baat’ also clarified that the Government understands that, for these projects, Government shall first utilize the land owned by them, then the barren land and if at all required, agricultural land would be acquired.
2. The Compensation Clause:Thirteen Acts of Parliament like the Railways Act, the Electricity Act, the Atomic Energy Act, etc (see page 45 of the UPA’s legislation of this selfsame Act), which provided for land acquisition, were put in the Fourth Schedule of the Act, (these schedules are listed in the UPA Act page 37 onwards) also apply to the orders stated in the fourth schedule “with such exceptions or modifications that do not reduce the compensation or dilute the provisions of this Act”.Which means, with a notification, land acquired for the above 13 Acts, the new increased compensation clause will not apply. This was a blunder.
Change: The NDA amendment has removed the aforementioned provision (underlined). To a layman, it might appear as nothing significant. However, reading the fine details of this provision, it is clear that it ensures that even if the land is acquired under the above 13 crucial Acts, the farmers will get the new, increased compensation—hold your breath—at four times the market rate. Is this anti-farmer? The Modi-led NDA Government has not changed the increased compensation provided in the UPA’s version of the Act and also clarified that the compensation will be applicable to not only the land owners but also the people dependent on that land.
On top of that the law modified by the Modi Government ensures that unless full compensation is not paid, land cannot be taken in possession. Compensation will be deposited in a designated bank account and the transactions are totally transparent.
3. Time Limit Clause:Section 101 of the UPA Act states that if the acquired land remains unutilized for a period of five years from the date of taking over the possession, the land shall be returned to the owners.
Change: The NDA amendment has changed it from “five years” with “a period specified for setting up of any project or for five years” and period wasted in legal matters is not included in this timeframe. By doing this the Government fixes responsibility on its own that it has to finish the project within the time limit specified for the project. If Government does not finish the project within the time line, then whatever the original land owners wishes, would prevail.
4. Why did the NDA support the bill in 2013?
Those who are agitating today for the cause of the villagers and farmers, ruled the country for 60 years under the same law made some 120 years back. The draconian Land Act of 1894 was expunged neither during the socialist governments of Jawaharlal Nehru or Indira Gandhi or the Janata Party, nor during the period the communists held great sway over India’s politics and policies all the way up to the mid-1990s. All these grand protectors of our land were following the extortionate, 120-year-old British-made decrees like “Whenever it appears to the Government that the temporary occupation and use of any waste or arable land are needed for any public purpose, or for a Company, the Government may direct the Collector to procure the occupation and use of the same for such term as it shall think fit…”.
The UPA Government brought in this Act in a hurry to gain the political mileage when it realized that it was facing an inevitable defeat in the ensuing Lok Sabha Election. The BJP, for obvious reasons supported the Act without reading the fine print. However, our thanks are due to both parties for getting rid of the 1894 Act.
When the Modi-led NDA Government was formed at the Centre, State Governments started writing to the central Government that the Act has limitations and requires changes. An year passed by and no state Government was ready to bring the Act to force. Back then, two Congress-governed states—Maharashtra and Haryana applied the new Act but both these “farmer-friendly” Governments, through notification, reduced the compensation to 50 per cent. It is evident that the Modi Government believes in strengthening the federal structure and giving more power to states and therefore, the changes are as per their recommendations now.
5.Why Ordinance?
Under Sec 105, the “Proposed” notification had to be placed before Parliament for a period of 30 days and Parliament was expected to approve, disapprove or modify the said proposed notification. The need for an ordinance arose because such a notification would have to be put before Parliament in the Budget session itself in July-August, 2014 and the approval or disapproval taken accordingly. 31 December 2014 being the last day for such a notification, the Government decided to amend Section 105 and apply all the compensation and R&R provisions of the 2013 Act to the thirteen exempted laws. Through this provision, the present ordinance provides that the farmers would get higher compensation if their land is acquired under any of the exempted laws. It goes a step further than the 2013 Act. This also explains the urgency of issuing the ordinance on the last day of the year since otherwise the Government would have been in default of the complicated approval provisions outlined in the 2013 Act.
The Real Cause
The ragtag Opposition and other fringe agitators are creating confusion for political reasons. LAB is a major law that is going to change the outlook and the future of India. To help their cause, the Opposition is shifting the narrative of a national requirement to mean it to be a personal requirement. Owning a small piece of land is also a matter of pride for an individual but it is not above national pride and above all, these are narratives which are used to confuse people. Migration from rural areas to urban and suburban centers where employment opportunities are available, is a reality. It is the migrants from rural areas who would benefit from this, who travel thousands of kilometres to Metro cities in search of a job and live miserable lives in slums.
In the end, the most fundamental question arises: What do we want for our own fellow Indians? That our farmers’ children are compelled to live their lives in the slums of Delhi, Mumbai etc in search of a job that provides them two meals a day? It is important that villages, farmers and their whereabouts are strengthened by providing them better roads, electricity, irrigation water, and industries around them for the additional burden on farms to shift to industrial employment. Better market, better school, better healthcare…indeed, the very basic needs that should be met, is the need of the hour for our villagers.
To know what our villagers, farmers, farmworkers actually want and expect from the Government, watch this—a riveting, magnetic, and enthralling speech that shakes you to the core by none other than a backward farmer and also a Member of Parliament from Bihar, Hukumdev Narayan Yadav. This is one of the greatest speeches ever made in the Parliament since the Constituent Assembly Debates.
The needs of a modern, growing and developing India needs a balanced approach. Development and justice to the landowner must coexist. One can’t be done at the cost of the other. The amendments brought in by the Modi Government are based on extensive consultations where State Governments of most political parties supported these changes. Those who are opposed to these changes can certainly mandate their respective party’s State Governments not to use the provisions of the ordinance. History will judge how these States will lose out in the era of competitive federalism.
this is surely written by a Bhakt, you must also read other side of debate : http://www.newsclick.in/india/land-grab-bill-return-colonial-oppression
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Good article. With this law in place, lot of people will get direct cash benefits in their bank accounts, as in the case of Gujrat, where people became millioniares after lands were acquired by govt. This is causing the pain for “Garibon ke Massiah” political parties, NGOs, social activists & other people who prey on misery of poor people by advertising their poverty. If poor people get money, political parties like INC will lose a major vote bank of poors because of which they survived for over six decades. Religious conversions take place in rural India by luring people with money; it will halt. If there are no more poors, social activists will become jobless.
Was looking for such an article ,and what fantastic point by point by point explanation,Thank you for enlightening us on this
Thank you. Please share with friends.
I want questions answered as a common man:
1) Why ordinance? What is the urgent need to make law on such a contentious issue where the govt has provided little clarity to the common man. Why “Mann ki Baat” happens 4 months later? This is a democracy, run it like democracy.
2) Modi said first already acquired land, then barren land and only then cultivable land will be used. Why is it not part of the amendments to the bill? Why should the common man not have a right to fight in court of law against the malpractices of any cdntral state minister?
3) The supreme court has favoured the common man if compensation has not been deposited in his personal account. So the govt has come out with amendment that possession can even be taken if it is a “designated” account. It is self-explanatory what govt is trying to do.
4) proviso to subsection 24(2), stay period to calculate 5 years when no award has been made to be excluded. All these cases, land has been acquired under the draconian 1894 act. This was a special facility given to those landowners who have not received compensation and possession has not been taken. If govt still wanted that land, they can acquire it under provisions of new act. By bringing amendment thru ordinance,Govt wants that these landowners remain under the 1894 act. Have u read the provisions of 1894 act? Please read them. It has been made for slaves, so by bypassing this provision, lakhs of people still remain slaves even after 68 yrs of independence.
I am looking forward to a healthy discussion. Please reply And I am willing to be convinced on constructive reasoning.
Dear Rohan, I will try to keep the answers simple:
1. On why Ordinance: Opposition wants to stall amendments to LAB, because they know the new bill will empower Modi sarkaar to improve the life of the poor. If there will be no poor left, then what will Congress and assorted left-overs base their politics on? It is existential battle for them. Hence the Ordibnance. My suggestion though is different. LAB has nothing to do with farmers alone but land owners. Land Acquisition Bill is land owners friendly. Majority of land owners are not poor farmers but land lords. To make it farmer friendly, The Bill must be implemented immediately as such and in few years it will become farmers friendly and India friendly too. The Govt must call for a joint session of Parliament now, pass the LAB bill now! They will also get time to show its benefits over the next 4 years.
2. Its a matter of common sense.
3. The transfer of ownership as well as possession cannot be executed unless the full compensation is depositied in the designated account specified by the land owner. There are no hitches in this.
4. Its not a common man’s question. It is a confusion created by the experts in the vile media.
can any one tell what this act says about an entitiy who stop functioning say after thirty years of acquiring the land. Will the entity keep the land and sell it to builders or others or the land will return to the Government for allocation to other entities.
I feel that many companies have huge land in main areas of many cities where they once had its companies. Now completely deserted. The owners of the companies then try to become builders themselves or sell it to land mafia. THis is a wrong practice and that is why people feel that after years they will see high rise buildings on their acquired land.
Land should also not be acquired for residential builders in any city area.
The land is acquired under this law by Government. Mostly the Govt is the owner/user after acquisition. Like railway tracks, airports, Highways, Irrigation tunnels, Hospitals, schools, colleges etc. Even in cases of development of Industrial corridors, the land is initially owned by Govt and later distributed to participating entities, corporate or any. When The Govt has defined the project completion period, if not utilized for the purpose for which they were acquired, they will have to return the land to the owner, without refunding the compensation earlier paid.
In my opinion, Farmers agony has only one solution. There are over 40% plus farmers who don’t have a land of their own and work like slaves on the farm. They need to be trained for some other jobs and moved into industrial jobs or some other form of modern economy. Therefore industry needs to be set up, schools need to be set up,roads need to be built. Also about 30% of farmers are living on very small pieces of land and therefore are not able to produce enough to sustain for their family- these farmers also need help with increased productivity as well as most of them actually want to sell their land for a good sum of money and go into some other form of economy. Instead of talking about these things, the land bill is being opposed which is actually very beneficial for the farmer and gives money in his pocket so that he can stop committing suicide in desperation. The bill can be modified with useful suggestions but stopping it means being anti farmer
I agree with everyone that agriculture should not be undermined.Here I give u an analysis. In our country,Many people are dependent on agriculture sector for livelihood. But manpower and investment doesnt contribute to GDP in same proportion. This is due to inefficiency in the agriculture. To this day many farmers are dependent on monsoons for water.Efficiency in agriculture is a must.For this we need to build more canals to improve irrigation, electrification should be done, New agricultural techniques that developed countries use should be applied, educate the farmers about soil testing and other methods and at the same time decrease manpower.The rest of the manpower should be employed in manufacturing sector by establishing industrial corridors to give a boost to manufacturing sector to increase productivity to become self sufficient and export if possible , thus contributing more to GDP.The govt is proposing to establish corridors near villages, so slum dwelling in urban areas becomes less.Everybody knows it is a slow process but the first step in the direction will be to remove any hindrance as they r beneficial to none.
From the entire brouhaha on the Land bill, one thing is absolutely certain, that the opposition spearheaded by the Congress wants to remain in limelight, lest their political relevance becomes questionable. There are certain fundamental issues raised regarding the old 1984 Draconian laws, which were operative till recently despite 60 years of Congress’ and other’s rules, but no body raised an eyebrow all these years. To all the detractors of the present amendments, my simple query is why didn’t you think before when the farmers were being looted, their lands confiscated, their means of sustenance forcibly taken away. Glaring examples can be seen through out India, specially in areas around Delhi. Where was your farmer friendly sympathy for so many years? And all of a sudden so many voices in unison against the present legislation. I also concede that there may be certain issues which may require moderation, but what is the opposition doing. Uniting to defeat the government in RS purely for ulterior political reasons. The anxiety of Congress and the others is obvious. The Congress and its coterie of sycophant followers are still lamenting the loss in 2014 LS elections. They have yet to come to terms with the abject decimation at the hustings, and they want to remain to be seen as RELEVANT in the political discourse. Further, it is also apparent that the opposition does not want the economic revival of the country, which thrives on the atmosphere of abject penury of the underprivileged, and if this nation surges ahead on path of economic revival, the vote bank politics of the opposition shall be dented. If a study of economic revival of any developed country is conducted, it would be seen that Industrial revolution the world over has led to increased employment avenues and a surge in disposable income of the people. In India, unfortunately, the industrial growth is being branded as anti people and industrialists are being branded as anti nationals by the same party which was in cahoots with these very industrialists when they were in power. I hope, better sense prevails, and rational debate on facts is undertaken in the parliament, to assuage the misgivings of the people. Yes, if certain adjustments are required based on national interests, those should be brought about, and the nation should move forward.
Good points.
If for industrial development land can be acquisitioned without owners consent why money or other wealth can not be acquisitioned for countrys
Development like railway connection to every village etc. Is it for the reason wealthy people either directly or indirectly make legislation and poor land owners are extremely weak unorganized.
Beautiful write-up. PM should direct the BJP MPs, to read this article, get the knowledge of LAB and take the message to Public at large. Even educated men are a bit confused. The article clears all doubts. In the meetings of BJP MPs, screening the Parliament Speech of Mr.H.N.Yadav can also be arranged. This way, correct perception of the bill can be created.
Thank you sir.
The real problem is not Land Acquisition Bill’s amendments……..the problem is FEAR IN THE MINDS of FARMERS…who have faced and heard of massive loot of Land in last 10 years. In the name of Mining, SEZ, Industry and Housing huge amounts of land was grabbed without proper compensation and rehabilitation. Except a few genuine pro-farmer politicans none believes and respects leaders, which they themselves are to blame for.
In last 10 years, Instead of fighting for the Farmers BJP wallas were also hobnobbing with Congressi looters, that’s why none was willing to give BJP a chance, had Modiji not been projected the leader of BJP. BJP won 272 MPS but none is willing to take the fight to scattered oposition, as they themselves have questionable credentials.
I would suggest, before Modiji goes for Amendment of LAB this year, he should order review of all the Land acquired in last 10 years, which are lying vacant. People have been made homeless without being paid any compensation or rehabilitation. Punish harshly the land grabbers. Return the unused lands to farmers or their owners or compensate them. This will instill confidence in the mind of peoples and farmers also. Farmers will heavily support the govt and then pursue the amendments in the LAB law.
All these congressis who are preaching Govt and calling them Anti-Farmer, should be exposed, how former env min JR grabbed land in Saranda Forest, how he awarded Mines to Mining companies close to Congress HC in deep reserve forest, the loot of Ashok Chavan, the loot of Rajeev Shukla, loot of Damadji etc etc should be punished heavily then only people will see justice being done.
Modiji is the only saviour for the Farmers and Poor people of this country. People will be shattered if justice is not done early. Without the support of farmers no political party can remain in power.
I think I have suggested the fastest and most affordable way of Instilling confidence in the minds of Farmers that LAND LOOT will not be allowed and what he’s doing is for betterment of folks.
This is also another angle. In one article I read that India had already got pictures from Satellites where (1) Barren lands are available, (2) Unutilised Government Lands are available and (3) where cultivation are going on.
Centre, in my opinion, can utilise (1) and (2) initially, giving DUE COMPENSATION OF 4 TIMES VALUE, at present,
develop them into Industrial Corridor or PPP project or Defence Project. By the proof of SEEING that the area is developed and their wards get some employment the VILLAGERS WILL THEMSELVES COME FORWARD TO GOVT. TO GIVE THEIR LANDS WITHOUT HEART-BURN. This 2 year period, may be given by P.M and in the third year he can bring LAB which will be implemented in his next 7 years.
Very disappointing – the author, like others in the so called “right wing” – show lack of sufficient understanding about Indian agriculture and farming tradition in India – agriculture in India is linked to our social and spiritual fabric – this obsession of moving people away from agriculture is dangerous for India – the government needs to make agriculture viable. That is Modi ‘s challenge. The government needs to make agriculture profitable, provide farmers with improved skills – a country prospers when its agriculture prospers – because viable agriculture not only boosts growth it helps the country address the issues of food security – by moving cultivators and farmer workers away from farming and into urban workers – there is no additional job creation.
We must continue to grow our own food, feed ourselves and stop believing that we have to turn our back on agriculture because it is unproductive . Please let us not destroy our food self-sufficiency by acquiring fertile farm lands -that too without doing the mandatory social impact assessment.
Future wars will be on food and water – and if we stop producing our own food and protecting our agricultural land, our future will be doomed.
Do you do that lady?
How can farmers with small and very small land holding sustain on land? I see many families of farmers around me who earn their living in the city and one or two in the family cultivate the small plot of land.
India has been ridden with many ailments ever since we realized ourselves as a nation, and socialist parties have given us lippy socialist solutions which convinced us that we are all right until we realized that we are not. Some symptoms seemed to cure at times but the cancer remains. The good doctor fixes you. The crook makes sure you are fixed enough to pay, broken enough to keep coming back!
Madam I agree with you on the point that agriculture shouldn’t be neglected. But I want to give a little detail. Numbers of people dependent on agriculture is high, but that doesn’t add to the GDP in the same proportion. If we can do efficient farming by way of various technological advances other countries are employing and improve irrigation and electrification and improve one crop land to multicrop land, we will be able to decrease the manpower on agriculture and increase productivity. Shift the remaining manpower to manufacturing sector by constructing industrial corridors and thus contributing more to GDP. The govt. is trying to establish these corridors near villages so that people dont need to dwell in the slums of urban areas.It well known fact that most of the farmers still depend on monsoons for water.If we can build more canals and increase irrigation there wont be any wars for food and water.The land is being taken up for this purpose and various other purposes .If this much explanation is needed to educated people , only god knows how much trouble this govt. has to go through to explain amd convince farmers and the need for dilution of consent clause. Spread the word.
Shwetank Bhushan!!! Seriously??? How seriously can words of a man who believes Modi’s spit is nector, be taken? An earnest request to Sandeep and others on Indiafacts… Your service to the Nation is more ideologically driven and less compromised by political correctness. Please do not make even Indiafacts a Niticentral or even a Swarajyamag clone.
Why has the author touched only 3 amendments..what about other amendments???
Is Industrial employment more important than the arable land? Already we lost large amount of it to the concrete jungle.
Very very biased assesment. Lacks insight. NewsLaundry’s Anand ranganathan did a fantastic job of the same. http://www.newslaundry.com/2015/02/21/do-bheega-zameen/
While I agree that the LAB needs amendments, the way this govt. is going about it is wrong. For example, in the concent clause, agree with you about (i) National security or defense, (ii) Rural infrastructure including electrification; However, you do not give explanations about (iii) Affordable housing for poor people; (iv) Industrial corridors; and (v) Social infrastructure and PPP projects … So, say a minister colludes with a developer and selects a random piece of land for “providing housing for the poor”. Is it justified to take any peice of land? The bill assumes that the govt. and its officials are above blame and are incorruptible. Can anybody really make that assumption !!
I agree that 70-80 % land acq, requirement is too much. So, reduce it to say 30-35%, but its a good condition to have.
Which brings me to time limit.Completely agree with amendment. Also would like to add that, one more amendment is required. replace “unutilized” with “80% completion”.
Indeed..my main contention is that these amendments are once again giving discretionary powers to the bureaucrats and politicians to decide what is social infrastructure, what is PPP project, what is affordable housing?? Also more discretionary power about the timing of the project !! The main issue was that cronies were stashing away land for decades to reap undue monetary benefits later by selling off the land or taking loans from the banks against the ‘LAND BANK’ !!! Today it is Modi, who might be an honest person..what if tomorrow some Robert or Rahul becomes PM, or some Goswami becomes Chief Secretary..who will save the people from their discretionary land grabbing then???
This article is about the merits and demerits of the ‘changes in the law’, based on the ‘malafide accusations’, hence only 5 topics touched. It is not about the intention of the government and delivery mechanism. Whereas, lawmakers have make the law and ensure delivery, people chose the lawmakers. There are no issues with change the law and has only been improved over the previous one. All the ‘doubts’ are on delivery and intention of the Government. For that, the people must exercise their right and chose the right government and also kick out those who fail to deliver. People of India have given a clear mandate for a definite period, they must trust their representatives. If they fail, replace it with a better choice. That is how democracy works.
And why do you think Modi was elected by people, to continue with the state sponsored land grab?? There are no issues with changing the law..who said that?? Once you codify in law that land can be acquired for ‘Private Colleges and Private Hospitals’, then how will you stop the application of law for a swanky 5-star hospital built by some Neta, which will charge hefty sums from patients but will get land at throw away prices? Also, it makes no sense to separate govt. intention/delivery mechanism from a ‘Change in Law’. If that was the case, then why you did not defend the 1894 law in your article? What was the pressing need to change that law, if it was not about Govt. intention and delivery mechanism?
If you have decided not to understand it, no body on earth can make you get it.
Thanks a lot for trying Shwetank. I mean it. But lets agree to disagree !! I am still more doubtful of intentions of politicians, be it Modi or anyone else. So i feel it is better to not put anything vague or discretionary in the law. If Modi Govt. does that, then it is pretty much the same as any other Govt in last 7 decades..BTW i found the article on newslaundry much more comprehensive and informative than yours.
It happens when you are ruled by congress for more than 60 years. You cant trust any one. We forget that Modi or Mr X or Mr Y are not aliens. We elected them to be our representative. People’s representative. In a democracy, if you do not trust the Government chosen by yourself, no one can help it.
I totally agree with you
I agree
There is a grievance redressal mechanism being setup.So dont worry.
Newsloundry is the backoffice for India today..whose editor is the daughter of the famous Moghul (no pun intended) who is nothing more than a plagiarist. Also Anand Ranganathan is the office boy of AAP