SAD for mandatory farmers' consent

After Shiv Sena's criticism on Monday, Government on Tuesday faced objections from another ally Akali Dal on avoiding consent of farmers from the controversial land Acquisition Bill. Speaking in lok Sabha, Akali Dal MP Ranjit Singh Brahmapura said the Government should have exercised care in such sensitive matters on farmers, while drafting the Bill.

The Akali Dal MP joined hands with Opposition in resisting Government's move to do away with the consent clause in the amendments to the land Acquisition Act and demanded that farmers' permission should be mandatorily taken before acquiring their land.

Farmers' consent should be made mandatory for acquisition of land, Ranjit Singh Brahmpura (SAD) insisted during a debate in lok Sabha on the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (Amendment) Bill 2015.

"Care should be taken that only barren land is acquired and not fertile land. Also, compensation must be provided at market rate. land may be acquired, but consent of farmers should be taken," he said.