Standing by Modi: RSS backs govt on land bill despite unhappy supporters

New Delhi: The Narendra Modi government maybe fighting hard to get its Land Bill through Parliament, undeterred by the fact that it has managed to unite the entire opposition, but back home things don’t look easy for it. The issue was raised vociferously by several farmers’ and workers’ bodies at the Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha (ABPS) of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) at Nagpur held from March 13 to 15.

The RSS-affiliated bodies like Bharatiya Kisan Sangh (BKS), Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), Swadeshi Jagran Manch (SJM), Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram and others have reportedly expressed deep concern over the Modi-government’s alleged “anti-farmer, anti-people policies in the garb of development” on the last day of the ABPS.

At a post-conclave meeting with the BJP president Amit Shah and other senior leaders, these organizations attacked the central government on various issues those tagged as ‘anti-people, anti-farmer’.

“After all, we have to face and deal with the farmers, farm sector labourers, workers and labourers from various sectors. We’re not questioning the government’s intention but want to clearly convey the government the resentment that is brewing up within this segment of Indian population. Even gradually there is a perception building up amongst the common man that Modi-government is pro-corporates, with having lesser concern for the common Indian citizens. This needs to be addressed and that was the objective of the meeting we had with the top BJP leaders after the Pratinidhi Sabha was over,” one of the members of the RSS-affiliated bodies told Firstpost on condition of anonymity.

However, the RSS in a press conference after the ABPS, had categorically refused the allegation that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was under attack from Sangh Parivar affiliates on issues like Land Acquisition Bill, Insurance Bill, Labour law reforms etc.

“All organizations have the freedom to express their views as these organizations have been working in respective areas. It’s up to the government to consider their views or not, while framing a policy. As far Land Acquisition Bill is concerned, the government has amended the previous bill to facilitate more gains to farmers. We hope the government will keep its promise of providing relief to common man,” the newly elected Sarkaryawah Suresh ‘Bhaiyaji’ Joshi – the second-in-command had said in the press conference.

In the past, the BMS had raised serious concerns over the Coal Bill and had demanded the government to protect the interest of the workers of coal mines.

“Every political party makes promises before elections, but it needs to be fulfilled. So, the NDA government ought to see that the promises it made, on the basis of which it got such a huge mandate gets fulfilled. I would quote RSS ideologue Shri Dattopant Thengadiji who had said that every political party in India is accountable to its citizens. After all, it’s the Indian citizens who would vote a party to power, and not any foreign nation,” said BMS vice president BK Rai. Much before the Union Budget 2015, the BKS had also written to the PM expressing their concern over the Land Acquisition Ordinance 2014.

“We strongly opposed to the removal of the clause on Social Impact Assessment of industrial corridors. We had questioned why fertile farm land should be given to industries and we still stand by it. We had urged the MPs not to support the Ordinance in the Parliament. However, the meeting at Nagpur was held in a conducive atmosphere, and it was decided that the problems and issues would be sorted out by coordinating with the government in an understanding manner,” said BKS general secretary Prabhakar Kelkar.

Besides, BKS and BMS, another organization - Akhil Bharatiya Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram ahead of the Budget had expressed concern over the changes made by the NDA government in land acquisition bill 2013 and Mines and Minerals (Development & Regulation) – MMDR Act. Besides land acquisition and rehabilitation issue, it had demanded the government incorporate amendments on royalty, sharing of profit, compensation and maintenance of the affected-displaced people in the MMDR Act.

Economist and national co-convener of Swadeshi Jagran Manch (SJM), Dr Ashwani Mahajan, who was also a part of the ABPS said, “In national interest, the Swadeshi Jagran Manch despite not being a political body, is always with the government, but we had objected to the original land acquisition ordinance. We asked the government that the concerns at large should be addressed and interests of the farmers and poor need to be protected.”

“India had witnessed Bhoodan Movement of Acharya Vinoba Bhave, where people voluntarily surrendered their land. So, in this country there’s no need for forceful acquisition of land. The meeting we had with Shah and other leaders gave all the organizations a platform to discuss these serious issues in an amicable manner. Besides the development agenda, which is equally important, the focus of the government should be to protect the interest of the farmers, workers, labourers and the common man. In the name of doing good, the government can be bad to this segment. We oppose to that policy where land is acquired to make profits alone. There’s a strong need to see the social impact it would have on people who live there,” Dr Mahajan added.

The meeting of Shah with RSS-affiliated bodies was specially organized by the top RSS functionaries, so that these bodies could bring the issues in the notice of the government.