Decision Not to Repromulgate the Land Ordinance No Setback: Modi Govt

NEW DELHI: The government on Monday asserted that the decision not to repromulgate the land ordinance was "no setback" for it and rejected Congress's charge of a "U-turn" on the issue.

With Prime Minister Narendra Modi under attack over the land ordinance issue, BJP fielded two senior ministers to take on the Opposition.

Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who addressed the media along with Rural Development Minister Chaudhary Birender Singh, also sought to allay apprehensions that the development agenda of the Narendra Modi government will be heavily hit with the 2013 land law restored even as she conceded that the process of land acquisition will definitely be delayed due to it.

She also expressed confidence that this will have no impact on the passage of GST saying, "We hope that good sense prevails on Congress" reminding it that despite its campaign against land bill, BJP has won in civic bodies polls in rural parts of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh."

"There is no setback. It is not going to affect our commitment for reform. Government is committed to the development, to create jobs... Reforms are required. That is why we have done that (brought the ordinance). If anybody has taken a U turn, it is the Congress," Sitharaman said.

According to her, the government finally decided not to repromulgate the ordinance and accept suggestions for revisiting changes in 2015 land bill to break the "political stalemate" over the issue.

"Unfortunately yes," was her remark when she asked whether the restoration of 2013 law will again delay the process of land acquisition thereby slowing the pace of industrialisation.

The Commerce Minister also hoped that the states, which will not formulate land laws in tune with their needs, will take both - the interests of the farmers as well as industrial development.