Ahead of Congress’ ‘victory’ rally on land Bill issue, the Modi Government in a counter-offensive on Friday asked the Opposition party to explain ‘looting’ of farmers’ land in Haryana during its rule before conducting its rally on Sunday.
“First rally behind facts, then hold a rally. First tally the facts, then hold a rally. Explain this looting of farmers’ land in Haryana. We are giving you sufficient time before you hold the rally. Seek a reply from the then Haryana Chief Minister (Bhupinder Singh Hooda), who led this movement to loot farmers’ land and give the answer,” said Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu while addressing a Press conference here along with Rural Development Minister Chaudhary Birender Singh.
Singh said the Opposition party “owes an explanation” before holding its rally on Sunday to claim “success” for blocking the land acquisition Bill in Parliament.
The Ministers strongly defended Government’s decision to bring the ordinance on land and then allowing it to lapse after three-time promulgation saying the changes were brought at the request of Congress-ruled States but they changed their track due to “political” reasons.
“Those who acquired lakhs of acres of farmers’ land in Haryana, Maharashtra, Karnataka and other Congress-ruled States without paying adequate compensation and depriving them of livelihood are now portraying themselves as well-wishers of the farming community. What a tragedyIJ” the Ministers said.
Singh made a frontal attack against Hooda, who was his bete noire in Congress, by detailing out figures of land acquired for Special Economic Zones in the State as well as land notified for acquisition in at least 15 places in the State by the departments of industry and town and country planning measuring up to 78,695 acres.
Charging the Congress with trying to create fear in the minds of farmers, Naidu said, “Congress has cheated and robbed farmers by continuing to acquire land under the same British law of 1894 for more than 50 years of its rule and even nine years of the UPA rule.
“They are now shedding crocodile tears. How dare you criticise the BJP. You acquired lakhs of acres of land during your rule. We did not. You are the villain not we,” he said.
Demanding an explanation from the Congress, the NDA Ministers alleged in a joint statement, “There is no end to such land scams presided over by the Congress. In the State of Haryana nearly 8000 acres of farmers’ land were acquired under different pretexts. However, all of us are aware of who benefited from such deals.”
“Out of 37 Special Economic Zones that were notified in Haryana in last ten years, only six have been made operational. The lands purportedly meant for SEZ, Industrial corridors have landed in the kitty of big industrial houses whereas farmers were left high and dry.”
“Explain the actions of the then Haryana Government of notifying 78695.25 acres of land and withdrawing 19,309 acres,” the Ministers said, adding, “how do you justifyIJ Do you have any answers. First explain, then hold Kisan rallies.”
Asked whether the Government’s decision to let the land ordinance lapse indicates a final decision not to press the changes in UPA’s land lawn, Naidu avoided a direct reply.
“We are still open to suggestions. We respect Parliament. We respect the Joint Committee of Parliament. As far as the issue of what manner the Bill has to be taken forward is concerned, we have on the one hand the views of Chief Ministers of various States and on the other hand there will be the recommendations of the Parliamentary panel. “We will have to move forward considering both,” he said.