Union Minister for Law and Justice D.V. Sadananda Gowda defended the Centre’s Land Acquisition Ordinance, saying that it was not harmful to the interests of farmers. Speaking to reporters here on Saturday, Mr. Gowda said the ordinance was issued to simplify the procedures of land acquisition, which was a hurdle for developmental activities in the past.
He further said that since there were several points about the Ordinance that were debatable, State governments can file suggestions on it.
Referring to the controversy surrounding the omission of ‘secular’ and ‘socialist’ words from the preamble of the Indian Constitution, Mr. Gowda alleged that some politicians and some people were misusing the term ‘secular’.
He said it is not necessary that these words should be there in the preamble of the Constitution as India had been following secular ideals before and after independence.