With incharge of the Party affairs here in Uttar Pradesh, Madhusudan Mistri refused to confirm whether the Party MP from Amethi, Rahul Gandhi would led the agitation against new land Acquisition Bill in New Delhi on April 19, former minister Jairam Ramesh, on Tuesday claimed that the agitation over the Amendements brought by the NDA government in the land Acquisition Bill, would be further intensifed by holding a rally in New Delhi after the return of its Vice-President Rahul Gandhi from his sabbatical leave. He claimed that the Congress would not let the agitation weaken against the proposed amendments in the land acquisition Act and will go to any extent to oppose it.
“Once Rahul Gandhi returns on April 19, the Congress will intensify the agitation against the proposed amendments,” Ramesh confirmed while replying whether the suspense over Congress’s yuvraj would end with the Party’s agitation on April 19 or not. Ramesh also said that all the political parties including SP, BSP, JD(U), left Parties, NCP and DMK were opposing the amendments and added that except the BSP, all other parties had joined the Congress in their March to Rashrapati Bhawan.
The former Union Minister said ‘’what is the use of holding a discussion or debate with the Centre, when they take an arrogant step by going through the Ordinance path to amend the Act without even consulting the opposition parties. Giving details about the objection of the Congress party over the proposed amendment, he said the Narendra Modi government has scrapped several riders through amendment to prevent the misuse of the acquired land.
“ They have made 9 amendments, changing the real face of the Act with the top most one is the withdrawal of agreement with 80 per cent of the farmers for acquiring their land. Besides they have also withdrawn the social impact clause and the clause that gives power to the farmer to get back their land if it is not used within 5 years time,” the Congress leader said.
He also said that the party is also opposing acquisition of one kilometers of land on both sides of the Corridors and scrapping of the Retrospective clause in which the farmers get their compensation from back date. Ramesh further said as the government does not have majority in Rajya Sabha it is impossible for it to find required backing in the Upper House to ensure passage of the land acquisition bill.
To a question, he said BSP chief Mayawati said in the Rajya Sabha that her party is against the bill. “She wants that the 2013 Act be implemented and we welcome her statement in this regard,” he said. On Union Minister Nitin Gadkari’s challenge of an open debate on the issue, Ramesh said he thought about it very late only when farmers’ associations opposed the bill and some others associated with RSS also spoke against it. “We are not running away from debate...we want the 2013 Act back for which I have personally sent three letters to Gadkari and Congress President Sonia Gandhi has sent a seven-page letter,” he added.