President Pranab Mukherjee signed on Friday the new Land Acquisition Ordinance recommended by the Union Cabinet on March 31, official sources told The Hindu .
The earlier ordinance, which could not be converted into law, will lapse on April 5. The government move drew a sharp response from the Congress, which decried the government’s “disregard” for parliamentary democracy and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “obstinacy to favour some capitalists”.
Congress to protest against re-promulgation of ordinance
The Congress will take out a rally in New Delhi on April 19, 2015 in protest against the re-promulgation of the ordinance. Party leaders are engaged in a heated exchange of letters with senior Ministers on the issue.
The government is using the tyranny of majority to obliterate parliamentary institutions and the move shows the obstinacy of the Prime Minister to favour some capitalists, said Congress communication department in-charge Randeep Surjewala.
The new ordinance, which is the 11th promulgated by the Narendra Modi government, incorporates the nine amendments adopted by the Lok Sabha. Because of a lack of political consensus, the Bill was not brought for passage in the Upper House.
Now, the amended Bill will go back to the Lok Sabha for approval before it is brought to the Rajya Sabha. If there is resistance to the Bill in the Upper House, then the government will consider getting it approved through a joint sitting of Parliament, sources said. Under the Constitution, at least one House should stand prorogued for an Ordinance to be promulgated. The Rajya Sabha was prorogued last week.
After moving nine amendments to the earlier Bill, the government does not seem to be in the mood to incorporate further changes, particularly provisions on seeking consent from at least 70 per cent of the landowners and for a social impact assessment before approval of a project and rehabilitation of the affected people.
The BJP’s argument is that the government is fighting a “perception battle” on the Bill and the Opposition Congress, Trinamool Congress, Janata Dal (United) and regional parties did “nothing” to implement the earlier Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, pioneered by the Congress, in the States ruled by them.
