Leader of the Opposition in Telangana Legislative Council Mohd. Ali Shabbir has termed the passage of the Bill seeking further amendments to the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, in less than five minutes on Sunday as bypassing parliamentary procedures.
“Even the Opposition members were not allowed to speak and the Bill was passed in a matter of three-and-a-half minutes. When the ruling party has absolute majority in the House it need not fear the Opposition like this and it’s not expected from a party that has come up from the people’s movement,” Mr. Shabbir Ali said speaking after the Council was adjourned sine die. He sought to know whether the problems of chilli farmers not getting a proper price for their produce would not qualify for a debate in the Legislature. “The Government went ahead with passage of the Bill even as we were on our toes holding placards with slogans decrying neglect of farmers,” the Congress leader said.
Stating that he had told the government that implementing the 2013 Act was the best way forward since the amendments proposed by some States, including Rajasthan, were returned by the Centre, Mr. Shabbir Ali said half of the work on the proposed projects would have been completed by now with acquisition of land as per the provisions of the 2013 Act. “However, the Government’s objective appears to not to complete the projects and push the blame on the Opposition,” he observed.
People’s concerns
If the voice of Opposition parties was stifled in the law making bodies, what platform was left to voice concerns of people, he asked.
Other than making tall claims of being a farmer-friendly government, the TRS regime was way behind the neighbouring States in practicising such measures — Andhra Pradesh had announced an incentive of ₹1,500 per quintal to chilli farmers and Karnataka had given ₹450 incentive per quintal to redgram farmers.
He cautioned the government that the day was not far when other sections would also not allow the ruling party leaders, including the Chief Minister, speak publicly as the students of Osmania University did recently.
