Land ordinance reissued after much deliberations: Naidu

Government today said the ordinance on land acquisition was re-promulgated after much deliberations, as it listed out steps taken to provide succour to farmers whose crops have been hit by the recent hailstorms and unseasonal rains.
Intervening in the debate on the agrarian situation in the country, Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu also hit out at the previous UPA dispensation for issuing over 460 ordinances during its tenure compared to about ten by it.
The land ordinance was re-issued after much deliberations, he said, adding that the previous UPA dispensation "had issued 462 ordinances, while this government has come out with hardly 10".

Countering opposition charges on the agrarian crisis afflicting the farmers, he said "our committment is to the farmers, poor people and rural people... Have patience for five years".
He specifically sought to respond to the issues raised by Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi just before him accusing the Narendra Modi government of ignoring the interest of farmers.
"Rahul babu, you (Congress party) were in power for 50 years and we have been in power only 9-10 months," Naidu said, as he listed out various measures taken by the government to help farmers, especially those affected by unseasonal rain and hailstorms.

On compensation amount for the farmers, Naidu said "virasat me hame kya mila (what we inherited when we came to power) that also has to be taken into account".

He said the government would "seriously consider" the recommendations of the Swaminathan panel on agriculture and stressed the need to increase agriculture output and spend more on R&D activities.
"We need to seriously look at the issues faced by farmers ... Everybody needs to work together to address the current problems faced by farmers. ... We have to put all our heads together to find everlasting long term solutions," Naidu said.

Stressing that the Prime Minister was sensitive to these problems, Naidu took a swipe at the Opposition saying that beyond one person, "you don't see anyone else. ... Yours is one, ours is everyone", apparently taking a dig at the Congress. Have patience, why are you afraid of facts," the Minister said.