Govt NOT averse to more amendments to Land Bill: Gadkari

Hopeful of bringing the opposition on-board to get the much-debated land legislation passed, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday said the government is not averse to more changes to the Bill.

"We are not averse to more amendments to the Land Bill provided they are good and substantial in nature. There is no restriction on fresh changes," Road Transport and Highways Minister Gadkari told PTI.

But at the same time, he cautioned that amendments aimed at delaying the measure and scoring political points against the government would certainly not be considered.

"We accepted nine amendments to the bill after discussion in the Lok Sabha. We are obviously open to new changes," he said. Asked about the National Democratic Alliance government's lack of numbers in the Rajya Sabha, Gadkari said that he is hopeful of getting support from the Upper House.

"I believe members will support the Bill in Rajya Sabha. Let us hope positively. We are confident," he said. Amendments to the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2014 have been approved by the Lok Sabha but could not be passed in the Rajya Sabha as the ruling NDA government is short of numbers in the Upper House.

However, pending the passage of the amendment bill by Parliament, the Ordinance was re-promulgated to ensure continuity in legislation. Since the re-promulgated ordinance carries the nine amendments approved by the Lok Sabha and is different from the one issued earlier, a fresh bill will be moved in Lok Sabha again.

Opposition parties are against the Bill in its present form and have been opposing it both within and outside of Parliament.