Would continue to fight against land bill: Jairam Ramesh

Hyderabad, Apr 3: Alleging that the NDA government is anti-farmer, Congress leader and former Union Minister Jairam Ramesh today said his party would fight against the proposed land bill both within and outside the Parliament.

"The reason why these amendments (to land acquisition act) are being pushed is because, the (Narendra) Modi government is basically anti-agriculture, anti-farmer.

Our fight will be in Parliament and outside Parliament," he told reporters here. Congress is opposed to the land bill primarily on five counts, he said.

"One, no consent (of farmers) required. Two, no social impact assessment required. Three, no return of land after five years. Four, acquisition of land for industrial corridors one km on left and one km on right for private developers.

Five, no retrospective clause to benefit farmers who have not taken compensation under the old Act.

These are the five fundamental reasons why the Congress party is opposed to the amendments tooth and nail," he said. Ramesh took exception to the government saying that it is ready to incorporate any useful changes in the proposed bill.

"Government first issues ordinance. Then it carries out amendments. Then it gets bill passed in Lok Sabha. Then it hits the obstacle of Rajya Sabha.

Then it says, we are ready to pass amendments. What sort of a democratic functioning is this?," he said.

"What are those changes? Are they prepared to bring consent back? Are they prepared to bring aside the five points I mentioned," Ramesh said.

PTI