Former Union Minister Jairam Ramesh on Monday alleged that there is a secret deal between the BJD and the BJP to pass the controversial land Acquisition Bill, 2015 in Parliament. Ramesh alleged that the BJD might back the Modi Government in order to get rid of the mega chit fund scam. He also said that the BJP and the BJD were two sides of the same coin. “We are not depending on Naveen Patnaik’s support to defeat the Bill in Parliament as several political parties including Samajwadi Party, BSP, left parties, NCP, JD (U), DMK and TMC are against the amendment,” he said, adding, “Still we appeal to the BJD to protest against the Bill on behalf of the poor farmers and tribals.”
Coming down heavily on the BJP Government, Ramesh said the Centre has opened the door for forcible land acquisition. He said that the Modi Government is anti-farmer and pro-private firm in the matter of land acquisition. He came with five major points which the Modi Government has removed from the new amendment. He stated that the existing land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 says that land could not be acquired for private companies without 80 per cent consent of farmers, but the Modi Government has changed the law and withdrew the consent clause.
Now, the Government can acquire land for private companies without the permission of farmers which is unfortunate. Secondly, the existing law says that Social Impact Assessment (SIA) has to be conducted before land is acquired. The SIA is necessary to consult Gram Sabha (Palli Sabha in Odisha) in the matter of land acquisition. But the new amendment removed the most important SIA, he rued.
“According to the 2013 law, if you fail to use the acquired land within five years, the land will be returned to the farmers. But the new Bill removed the restriction as a result of which the company would become the master of the land,” Ramesh said. The fourth point about setting up of a 1km layer after the industrial corridor is not acceptable. The 2015 amendment says land would be acquired not only for corridor but also for 1 km range from the corridor, he added.
He further said there were many farmers who didn’t get compensation according to the land Acquisition law, 1894, would not get the compensation as the retrospective clause has been diluted by the Modi Government. “So the new Bill is anti-farmer and anti-democratic. We will fight against the Bill in Parliament and outside,” he told.
Ramesh said Modi is behaving like Duryodhan of the epic Mahabharat. Farmers are Pandabs and the Kouravs are led by Modi. “This is 21st century Mahabharat and we will definitely join the army of Pandabs,” he added. “Here is an opportunity for Naveen Patnaik to protest the anti-farmer and anti-democracy legislation. The Chief Minister, who is claiming to be working for the farmers, must show his commitment,” said Ramesh, adding, “If the BJD believes in farmers, tribals and democracy, it must oppose the amendments in the Bill.” The former Union Minister also alleged that the Modi Government is trying to dilute the Forest Rights Act, 2006.