The government on Thursday faced the full fury of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha when it sought to table a statement giving the reasons for the re-promulgation of the land acquisition ordinance. Noisy protests led to an adjournment of the House.
The statement said the implementation of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 had become “difficult” owing to the requirement of changing certain provisions [13 Acts in the Fourth Schedule] [before December 31, 2014].
It was necessary to re-promulgate the Ordinance so that the provisions in the earlier Ordinance continued to remain in force in case of acquisitions made under the 13 Acts listed in the Fourth Schedule of the Act of 2013. “As the House was not in session and immediate action was required to give continuity to the provisions of the Ordinance, the Ordinance had to be re-promulgated,” it said.
Trinamool protestAs soon as Minister of State for Rural Development Sudarshan Bhagat rose to table the statement, Trinamool Congress leader Derek O’Brien raised an objection while a member of his party tore a copy of the agenda and threw it into the Well of the House. Laying of the statement was part of the government business mentioned in the agenda.
Vociferously opposing the statement, several Opposition members trooped into the Well of the House raising anti-government slogans.
“ Kisan-virodhi yeh sarkar nahi chalegi (anti-farmer government is not acceptable),” the Samajwadi Party members shouted as they walked into the Well.
Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nadi Azad wanted to speak, but could not do so because of the din. As the ruckus continued, Chairman Hamid Ansari adjourned the House for 15 minutes.
