INLD raises voice against land acquisition bill in LS

CHANDIGARH: Haryana's main opposition party Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) strongly opposed the proposed amendment in Land Acquisition Bill during a discussion in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday. The development is significant as the party had extended support to the Narendra Modi-led NDA government at the Centre.
Addressing the House, party's Hisar MP Dushyant Chautala requested the central government to send the Bill to the standing committee for reconsideration after taking into account its adverse effects on farmers.Cautioning the central government not to stab the back of farming community, he said that the land already acquired by the government has not been properly utilized.
Dushyant informed the house that 70,000 acres of land have been acquired in the past 10 years but those displaced after losing their lands have not been properly rehabilitated till date.
Opposing the land acquisition amendment bill, Dushyant added that the central government's actions to amend the bill would only benefit big corporate houses of the country. He also stated that several MPs, who come from agriculture producing states wanted to vote against the Bill, but could not do that because of their political compulsions.
The young MP also stated that if the Bill was passed, all of Haryana's fertile land would be acquired in the next few years. He also attacked Union minister Birender Singh for supporting the Bill and said that during his association with the Congress party, he had supported the original land acquisition bill and now with changed loyalties, he is supporting a bill that is anti-farmers.