Land Acquisition Bill: Government to go Ahead with Proceedings Despite Stern Opposition

In spite of the opposition's move of uniting against the land acquisition ordinance, the government is likely to go ahead with the move. The bill would make it easier for industrial and infrastructure projects to acquire land in an attempt to boost investment.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare will join hands against the dictum on Tuesday while the Congress will hold a dharna on Wednesday. Incidentally, the Grand Old Party had administered the new law in 2013. Introduction of the bill to replace the land acquisition ordinance will take place on Tuesday, reports The Times of India.

Opposition parties have made it clear that they would go all out to stall the bill in Rajya Sabha if the government does not make changes to the controversial clauses related to consent and Social Impact Assessment that have been projected as the "basic structure" of a pro-farmer law.

Congress, Samajwadi Party, JD(U), Trinamool, BSP, DMK and the Left bloc met in Rajya Sabha on Monday to work out a plan which would enable them to take on the government in the budget session of Parliament.

Earlier on Monday, President Pranab Mukherjee said the land acquisition act had been "refined" to minimise some procedural difficulties in acquiring land for critical projects, reports IANS.

The president said in his address to the two houses of parliament at the start of the budget session that the NDA government attaches paramount importance to safeguarding interests of farmers and families affected by land acquisition.