Farmer leaders slam proposed land Bill changes

A parliamentary joint committee on land Bill on Tuesday heard leaders of five farmer organisations, who slammed the Narendra Modi government's proposed amendments to the 2013 Act as alarming.

These leaders requested the committee members to recommend the withdrawal of these proposed amendments.

These farmer leaders criticised amendments such as removal of consent clause and social impact assessment in five categories, terming them "alarming". The organisations that gave oral evidence to the

S S Ahluwalia-headed 30-member committee were the Rashtriya Kisan Union and the Kisan Mazdoor Sangathan from Uttar Pradesh, the Kisan Jagriti Manch and the Bhartiya Kisan Union from Haryana and the Khet Bachao Jeewan Bachao Sangharsh Samiti from Bihar.

The committee had its third meeting on Tuesday. Those who met the panel included farmers from Bhatta Parsaul, Uttar Pradesh, from where Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi had started his agitation against forcible land acquisition in 2011.

Sources said some members of the Bharatiya Janata Party and its allies tried to reason with the farmer leaders on the need for the amendments. However, Opposition members of Parliament requested them to allow these leaders to express their views. Ahluwalia said questionnaires would be sent to those appearing before the panel so that their views on relevant points would be available in writing when the panel meets again on Monday.

The farmer leaders objected to the proposed repeal of Section 24 (2) of the 2013 Act, relating to acquired land being returned to the original owner if it remained unused for more than five years. They said such a change would cause great loss to farmers whose lands were acquired under the 1894 Act but have not accepted any compensation till date.

They said if there was an amendment in Section 24 (2) of the 2013 law, those farmers would be forced to accept compensation according to the 1894 Act. A leader also pointed out that Section 24 (2) provided a window of opportunity to farmers in Noida and Gurgaon to claim compensation on a much higher scale, in case their land was acquired some years ago before the passage of the 2013 land law, but either its possession was not taken or they have not been paid compensation.

FARMERS MEET PARLIAMENTARY JOINT COMMITTEE MEMBERS

• Those who met the parliamentary joint committee on land Bill included farmers from Bhatta Parsaul
   
• Sources said some members of BJP and its allies tried to reason with the farmer leaders about the need for amendments
   
• Opposition MPs, however, requested them to allow these leaders to express their views
   
• Questionnaires will be sent to those appearing before the panel to give their views on some of the relevant points in writing