Land Ordinance To Be Re-Promulgated Again

NEW DELHI: The Union Cabinet has recommended re-promulgation of the controversial land acquisition ordinance for the third time in five months.

The decision has immediately drawn a sharp response from the Congress and the CPI (M), who along with other Opposition parties, have been stalling the Bill’s passage in the Rajya Sabha.

Opposition leaders stressed that it was improper to recommend re-promulgation of the ordinance as a 30-member Joint Committee of Parliament was currently deliberating on changes sought to be made in the Land Acquisition Act, 2013. While CPI (M) MP – and a member of the Joint Committee – Mohammad Salim said it was “improper” to push for re-promulgation during the pendency of the Committee, Congress communication chief Randeep Surjewala said: “It is an affront to Parliament that refused to put its stamp of approval [on the Bill].”

But the NDA government spokesperson and Union Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, announcing the decision, said the Cabinet had recommended re-promulgation of the ordinance “to ensure continuity” so that “farmers don’t face hardships on compensation” as, otherwise, it would have lapsed on June 4.

The Cabinet’s recommendation will now be sent to President Pranab Mukherjee — who had in January expressed his disapproval of the ordinance route publicly and privately — for his approval. However, it appears unlikely that Mr. Mukherjee will withhold his approval.
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