NEW DELHI: PM Narendra Modi’s pet land bill seems to have run into rough weather. After the proposed changes in the land bill of the previous UPA government, social activist Anna Hazare had announced his decision to protest against the changes to the tooth and nail, saying the new legislation was anti-farmer and will serve only the interest of business leaders and big industrialists.
He was soon followed by a resurgent Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi who returned last week after going on leave for nearly two months to introspect and prepare the blueprint for the revival of Congress party.
However, the final blows came when a farmer Gajendra Singh from Rajasthan committed suicide at the AAP rally at Jantar Mantar in Capital and the recent refusal by the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) to support the infamous legislation any more.
BJD supremo and Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik had reportedly assured Modi to support the bill in parliament. In return, his government also accepted four changes in the legislation as proposed by the regional party in the House. However, the Odisha CM is said to have changed his mind after the recent suicide spree of farmers countrywide, and has conveyed his decision to Modi’s camp. Even the AIADMK, second largest party in the Opposition after Congress, is learnt to have made up mind to toe Patnaik’s line on the issue and oppose the bill.
However, following promulgation of the ordinance on land bill for the second time earlier this month, Modi government has enough time at hand to bring in the legislation in the House and can wait till the next session.
Meanwhile, another source in the government says, the bill may be introduced in Rajya Sabha, the Upper House of the parliament where the government is in minority, after the passage of the finance bills.
While the government has the option to call a joint session of the parliament if the bill fails to pass in the Upper House test, opposition parties plan to delay the bill in Rajya Sabha and send it to the Standing Committee in stead of rejecting the land bill outrightly.
