Charged for adopting double-standards on the Centre’s proposed land Acquisition Act, the ruling SAD in Punjab on Thursday clarified its stand saying that the party is against acquisition of farmers’ land “without their consent”. “We have two main issues in the land Acquisition Act: one is farmers’ consent and second is to give them proper price of their land and a good share in development,” said CM Parkash Singh Badal in the Assembly.
The issue was raised by the leader of Opposition Sunil Jakhar during the question hour alleging the SAD of being “against farming community”. “The party is opposing land bill outside, even Chief Minister issued a statement that the party is against it, but voting in its favour inside the Parliament. This double-faced attitude is unacceptable,” said Jakhar.
Responding, Badal categorically assured the House that the SAD-BJP alliance Government in the State is against the acquisition of farmers’ land without their consent. “SAD stand is clear on farmers' land acquisition that it should not be done without their consent, they must be given a proper price for their acquired land besides making them partners in development of their acquired land,” he submitted. “We have already conveyed this to the core committee and the high command,” said Badal.
He claimed that it was during Congress’ regime that the land of farmers was acquired at throwaway prices. “Our Government is clear that before acquisition of land of farmers, a committee comprising village head, block samiti chairman, area MlA, constituency MP and the concerned Deputy Commissioner will fix the price of the land, which will be at par with its current market value,” he said.
Badal said that it was the Akali Government which had doubled the money of the acquired land of a farmer after he expressed dissatisfaction over the rate provided to him by the Government. Earlier, Jakhar had asked the CM to strongly take up the issue of doing away with the clause against farmers’ consent with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi who is visiting the State on Monday. “We are ready to accompany you to take up the issue of farmers,” said Jakhar.
CONG TO GHERAO ASSEMBlY ON lAND BIll ON MARch 24
Punjab Congress has decided to gherao the State Assembly, currently in session, on March 24 to protest against the Centre’s land Acquisition Act. “The party will protest against the dilution of land Acquisition legislation by the Narendra Modi Government at the Centre in which SAD is a partner and has supported the amendment bill in the lok Sabha,” said the State party chief Partap Singh Bajwa on Thursday.
Bajwa said that the programme has been finalised in consultation with party’s national general secretary and Punjab affairs in-charge Shakeel Ahmed, secretary in-charge Harish Chaudhary, and Congress legislative Party (ClP) leader Sunil Jakhar.
Party workers would first gather in Sector 25 rally ground at 11 am on March 24. After the rally, the Congressmen would march to the Assembly to lodge their protests. “Another issue is fixing prices on the basis of Swaminathan Committee recommendations according to which farmers should get at least 50 per cent profit over and above the cost of inputs,” Bajwa pointed out, adding that it was also BJP’s poll promise from which the party had backtracked after coming into power.
CONGRESS PROTESTS OUTSIDE ASSEMBlY
Punjab Congress Kisan Khet Mazdoor Cell chairman Inderjit Singh Zira, along with others, on Thursday staged a protest outside the State Assembly against the land Acquisition Bill. Terming the bill as “anti-farmer”, Zira said that already, all opposition parties have started protests against this Bill and all farmer organisations are also on the streets. “This anti-farmer bill will not be allowed to be cleared from the Rajya Sabha at any cost,” he asserted. Meanwhile, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab’s convener Sucha Singh Chhotepur held a day-long hunger strike to protest the Bill.