TMC, Left, Congress move motion against Land Ordinance

Kolkata, June 12: Arch political rivals Trinamool Congress, Left Front and Congress today came together to move a motion in the West Bengal Assembly against Land Ordinance, terming it as anti-farmer and demanded its withdrawal. The lone BJP MLA in the Assembly opposed the motion.

The motion under the Rule 185 was first moved by state Parliamentary Affairs Minister Partha Chatterjee, followed by CPI(M) leader Anisur Rehman and Congress leader Manas Bhuniya.

Speaking on the motion, state Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee demanded that the ordinance be withdrawn immediately. The chief minister said the land ordinace was anti-people.

The party can't support this. They might be politically and ideologically different from each other, but there existed issues in which there could be a consensus for the sake of national interest and for the interest of the masses.

Continuing her polemic, she said this ordinance was completely against the interest of the masses, farmers and farm labourers. It can't be supported.

In democracy the opinion of the masses has to be accepted. She said the ordinance earlier too was opposed in the Rajya Sabha as the government failed to pass it due to the united opposition against it.

Now they have again promulgated the ordinance. Party MPs have opposed it in Parliament. There will be no compromise on the issue.

Recalling the anti-land acquisition movement started by the TMC in 2006-07 in Singur and Nandigram, she demanded its withdrawal respecting the sentiments and opinion of the masses.

She also made it clear that her government was against SEZ policy and that was why it had not given SEZ status to two IT companies.

Speaking on the motion, opposition leader Surya Kanta Mishra too echoed Mamata's views, saying this was anti-people, anti-farmer and anti-farm labourers.

The Congress legislature party too demanded the withdrawal of the ordinance. Senior Congress leader Manas Bhuniya reminded people that India lives in villages and if public opinion on the bill was bulldozed, people would give a fitting reply.

Lone BJP MLA Shamik Bhattacharya, who opposed the motion, felt that the ordinance promulgated by the Centre had given right to the state whether they want to implement it or not.

Bhattacharya said if somebody did not want to implement it, then it was upto him. But if some other state is willing to implement it, why is it being stopped?

PTI