Demanding freedom for farmers, RLD leader Jayant Chaudhary today observed that the "consent" clause was the main issue in the new Land Acquisition Bill, and said force should be not be used in a democracy.
"The main issue is that of consent in land acquisition. Force should not be used in democracy. It's not China, where government can do anything," Jayant told reporters here after meeting UP Governor Ram Naik.
On development, he said CAG in its report has said that 1,250 hectare land was given to a corporate house to set up special economic zone, but nothing has been done on it.
"The CAG has said that land for SEZ was allotted to several corporate houses and they mortgaged it and took loan. It has said that 45,000 hectare land had been acquired of which 38 per cent is lying unused. There is no shortage of land. So your development is not getting blocked," the national general secretary of Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) said.
Jayant said if the government wanted to create jobs, there are several unemployed youths; they must give jobs to them.
He alleged that provisions for irrigated land in which some restrictions were imposed have also been touched.
"Farmers should have freedom and industrialists should directly deal with them. Government should concentrate on land use planning and land title," he said.
The RLD leader said claims that development projects and schemes were being blocked was only an excuse as the intention was to relate it to Public Private Partnership.
"I believe that the entire opposition should get united on this issue," he said.
