Denied opportunity inside the House to respond to the charges made against it on the amendments done in the land Acquisition Act, 2013, the ruling BJP came out with its take and defense about the Bill outside. The party while rapping the Opposition JMM, Congress and JVM for the continuous disruptions termed the act undemocratic in nature.
“The Bill was presented in the Assembly and later sent to the Select Committee where Opposition members were also present. The President has given his assent to the Bill making it a full-fledged law. But it is unfortunate that the Opposition members are unaware of set principles and rules. This is sheer stubborn attitude when they have continuously disallowed the House to function for last eight sessions over one issue or another,” said BJP legislator and chief whip Radha Krishna Kishore addressing a press conference on Thursday.
The legislator, on the occasion, defended the amendments made in the land Acquisition Act and said that the Bill passed was meant only to acquire land for larger public purposes. The Opposition has been saying that through the Bill the Government would take away agricultural land and hand it over to corporate and business houses.
“These allegations are baseless that the land would be taken for setting up industries or mining etc. The Act of 2017 has just eased the process by relaxing the compulsory SIA for building infrastructure like road, school, universities, hospitals, panchayat bhawan, irrigation facilities, electrification, housing for poor, piped water supply and other Government buildings only. Also, there is no change done in the areas governed by PESA,” said Kishore, charging the Opposition with playing politics at the cost of larger public interest.
He also said that if the parties opposing the provision believe something went wrong they should come up with amendments in the House and get those discussed and passed. The party in a separate communication also criticised Swami Agnivesh for his statements made against Hindus and termed him a person working with an agenda to disintegrate tribal society.
Meanwhile, former chief minister and JVM supremo Babulal Marandi, Congress leader Subodh Kant Sahay and some other leaders sat with different social organisations to condemn the brutal attack on Agnivesh in Pakur. The organisations would organise a protest march in support of the social reformer on July 21.
On the other, the probe team comprising Divisional Commissioner and DIG of Santhal Pargana visited the place where the attack had happened and inquired about the incident with the hotel staffs and local residents.