The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has told the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on land Acquisition Bill that land should not be acquired without farmers' consent, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal said here today.
"To safeguard the interests of farmers across the country, SAD has already made its stand crystal clear to the JPC regarding the proposed Right to fair Compensation and Transparency the land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (Amendment) Ordinance, thereby pleading that not even an inch of land should be acquired by government without the consent of the farmers and the land owners," Badal said.
All SAD MPs in lok Sabha have already submitted a detailed memorandum to the JPC chairman stipulating that land was a priceless asset of farmers and it should not be acquired by the government without the consent of the farmers/land owners, Badal, who is also SAD patron said on the second day of his Sangat Darshan Programme at Jandiala Guru assembly segment.
likewise, land should only be acquired for public sector projects and the government should not get into acquisition of private entities, he said.
Badal stated that Punjab had a time tested success story of land acquisition policy which ensured that no land was acquired forcefully.
Whenever land was acquired, the interests of the farmers/owners whose land was acquired were paramount and were protected by giving them an option of market rate plus displacement allowance of 30 per cent or becoming partners in the proposed project through a land pooling policy, he said.
Badal pointed out SAD has impressed upon the Union Government that wherever land was to be acquired, farmers should be given the option of accepting compensation at market rate plus displacement allowance or join a land pooling process under a policy as followed in Punjab.
Further, the farmer should not be denied the right to approach court for redressal of grievances, he said.
The Chief Minister opined that the state should be given a free hand for fixing market price of the land to be acquired and that price should be accepted for all acquisition, regardless of whether these were done for the state or the Central government or the public projects.
Badal emphasised that the Punjab model of land acquisition policy should be followed while finalising a national policy on the subject as SAD was a votary of "fool proof" safeguards for compensating the farmers and those dependent on land including farm and labourers.
Badal said Sangat Darshan programme was the most effective platform for the general masses to get their day to day genuine issues addressed on the spot with the participation of local administration.
Badal said, "Sangat Darshan is the only channel of two way communication which is the essence of clean, transparent and accountable governance."
On the contrary mass contact programme being carried out by former Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Amarinder Singh is merely a "ploy" to promote his own image on one hand and to pursue his "hidden" agenda to capture power by "exploiting" the sentiments of the people on the other, he said.
Badal said, "Capt Amarinder's tenure was dominated by his lust to rule over the masses as Chief Minister of the state, being a monarch whereas I, being an elected representative of the people, am ever committed to serve them with all humility and dedication as a loyal public servant."
"I will always serve the people with the same zeal, sincerity and commitment till my last breath," he said.
The Chief Minister said he has been overwhelmed by the unbounded love and affection showered by the people on him, which further rejuvenated his "unflinching" spirit to dedicate his entire life in the service of humanity in consonance with his party's mission 'Raj Nahi Sewa' (We are here to serve people not to rule).
He announced to get a comprehensive study done on the villages of Jandiala Guru Assembly Constituency jointly by the Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar and the local administration to ensure sector wise development of the area with the thrust on the welfare of all sections of the society in a far more meaningful and result oriented manner.