Land bill deadlock impacting rural development: PM at NITI Aayog meet

Ahead of the Parliament session, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday reached out to parties appealing them not to come in the way of prosperity of farmers, saying the deadlock over the land acquisition bill is seriously impacting rural development.

Addressing the second meeting of the governing council of NITI Aayog, which was convened to discuss the land acquisition bill, he said the Centre and states must move together to end poverty.

The meeting was boycotted by chief ministers of the nine Congress-ruled states. Only 16 CMs were present.

Modi said, "The political deadlock over land acquisition (law) is seriously impacting rural development, including the creation of schools, hospitals, roads and irrigation projects."

Observing that there was no difference between the Centre and states on paying enhanced compensation, Modi said, "Political considerations should not come in the way of a solution that would facilitate the development of rural areas, and greater prosperity for farmers."

The bill was before the Parliamentary Standing Committee, he said, adding that "ahead of the upcoming Parliament session, it was appropriate that the suggestions of states be listened to, once again".

The Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act or land acquisition bill is being scrutinised by a 30-member joint committee of Parliament. The committee is scheduled to give its report later in the month. The monsoon session of Parliament begins on July 21.

Besides the CMs of the nine-Congress ruled states, the notable absentees were West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Tamil Nadu's J Jayalalithaa, Odisha's Naveen Patnaik and Uttar Pradesh's Akhilesh Yadav.

The meeting, however, was attended by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, besides the CMs of the National Democratic Alliance-ruled states.

The prime minister said that after formation of his government, several states had raised concerns with regard to the implementation of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013. Many states, he added, felt that development work was suffering due to the provisions of the 2013 act and some chief ministers had requested for changes in the act and had sent letters to this effect.

Stressing that state units should be the focus of all development efforts as part of 'Team India', he said, "The last one year had been a good beginning, with states being taken on board in the planning process, and state chief ministers taking the lead in sub-groups of NITI Aayog."

The chief ministers, he said, had always felt that development policies at the Centre should be framed in consultation with the states. The ordinance on the land law was promulgated thrice in response to the development concerns of states, and also to ensure that farmers continue to receive their legitimate due, he added.

In addition to the 16 chief ministers, the meeting was also attended by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Rural Development Minister Birender Singh and NITI Aayog Vice-Chairman Arvind Panagariya.

Some states keen to bring own land acquisition laws: Jaitley

With the government’s pet land acquisition bill stuck for consensus, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said some states are keen to bring their own legislations to make it easier to acquire land as they cannot indefinitely wait for a consensus on the central legislation.

At the meeting of the Governing Council of NITI Aayog, an overwhelming section of states said they cannot “indefinitely wait for consensus” on amendment to the land acquisition bill, he said.

“An important suggestion that came was that Centre should endeavour to create a consensus but states cannot indefinitely wait for that consensus.

“If Centre fails to approve this (bill) with consensus, then it should be left to the states. Those states which want to develop fast... can suggest their own state legislations and Centre (would) approve that state legislation. An overwhelming section gave this kind of suggestion,” he said.

Jaitley neither named the states that wanted their own legislations nor give a break-up of Bharatiya Janata Party and non-BJP ruled states demanding such a move.

The meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was attended by 16 chief ministers.

“Those who could not come because of pre-occupation, many of them spoke to the PM which is understandable. Those who chose to boycott must introspect whether not attending the NITI Aayog meeting is in consonance with the spirit of cooperative federalism. You can always come and express an alternative opinion,” Jaitley said.

Nitish Kumar opposes land bill

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar demanded that the amended land acquisition bill be withdrawn in favour of the original 2013 legislation even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached out to parties to end the deadlock over the Bill.

“The state government opposes any attempt to dilute, nullify or tamper with the letter and spirit of the 2013 Act in its original form,” Kumar said while addressing the second meeting of the Governing Council of NITI Aayog in New Delhi, which was convened to discuss the land acquisition bill.

Kumar said “substitution of term ‘private company’ by term ‘private entity’, removal of the consent clause, exemption from social impact assessment and special provisions for safeguarding food security in the process of land acquisition and relaxation in the time limit for return of the unutilised acquired land are not in public interest”.

Kejriwal opposes land bill

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal voiced opposition against the land bill and raised concerns over Centre's "interference" saying it was against the spirit of cooperative federalism.

Kejriwal put forth his reservations and concerns at the NITI Aayog meet. "Attended Niti Ayog meet. Opposed Land Acq amendments. Also said that Centre's interference in Delhi was against coop federalism," Kejriwal tweeted.

In the meeting, Kejriwal also suggested a "separate session" of the body on Centre-state relations and cooperative federalism.

The Delhi chief minister's comments assume significance in the backdrop of the AAP government's strained relationship with the Modi dispensation at the Centre over jurisdiction issues among others.

The AAP has also been campaigning against the proposed changes to the land acquisition law terming them as "anti-farmer".