Speaking to media, Congress President Sonia Gandhi said, "All progressive, secular, democratic forces are determined to defeat Modi government design to promote divisions and social disharmony. We are here to request him (President) to intervene to protect the interest of farmers, and to stress upon Modi government not to go ahead with the amendments in Rajya Sabha."
Opposition parties on Tuesday gathered at Gandhi Statue in Parliament premises and marched toward the Rashtrapati Bhavan to protest against the NDA Government’s Land Acquisition Ordinance.
The march was lead by Congress president Sonia Gandhi. Prominent leaders, including Ambika Soni, Rajeev Shukla, Kamal Nath and Ahmed Patel participated in the march. The BSP, however, opted out of participating in the protest.
Speaking to media, Congress President Sonia Gandhi said, "We came together to meet President to present a memorandum to him and to oppose the Modi government’s amendments to the right to fair compensation and transparency in land acquisition."
She further added, "All progressive, secular, democratic forces are determined to defeat Modi government design to promote divisions and social disharmony. We are here to request him (President) to intervene to protect the interest of farmers, and to stress upon Modi government not to go ahead with the amendments in Rajya Sabha."
Criticising Congress, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said, "This is Congress' obstructionist and negative politics. We will find a way". Jaitley was speaking to ANI.
Stating that It is a continuation of Congress's politics of obstructionism, Jaitley said, "Congress has adopted obstructionism both a s a strategy and now almost as an ideology. Amendment to land bill is entirely in favor of rural India,it seeks to provide housing to poor,seeks to create infrastructure."
He further added, " It is a negative politics of obstructionism which is intended to keep India backwards. If Congress has serious objection, the ordinance gives discretion to State government to continue under old law."
Opposition parties have united over the contentious bill, claiming that it is an anti-farmer legislation. The leaders also plan to submit a memorandum to President Pranab Mukherjee.
A large contingent of security personnel drawn from the Delhi Police and paramilitary forces were deployed in the area in riot gear. Barricades were set up and water cannons were also placed on the route leading from Parliament to the President's House.
Latest updates:
18:53 IST Tuesday, 17 March 2015
It is a draconian bill : D Raja
Speaking to ANI, CPI leader D Raja said, "President's intervention is necessary as it is a draconian bill which is anti-farmers."
18:50 IST Tuesday, 17 March 2015
This is congress' negative politics: Arun Jaitley
Criticising Congress, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said "This is Congress' obstructionist and negative politics. We will find a way". Jaitley was speaking to ANI.
18:34 IST Tuesday, 17 March 2015
This is going to be 'aar-paar' (do or die) battle: Sharad Yadav
This is going to be 'aar-paar' (do or die) battle; We have sounded the bugle for the war: JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav.
18:32 IST Tuesday, 17 March 2015
Congress President Sonia Gandhi
We came together to meet President to present a memorandum to him and to oppose the Modi government’s amendments to the right to fair compensation and transparency in land acquisition.
18:09 IST Tuesday, 17 March 2015
Derek O'Brien, Trinamool Congress: All parties are together today, this is a historic march, hope Modi Govt is watching this march.
17:52 IST Tuesday, 17 March 2015
Former PM Dr. Manmohan Singh joins opposition's protest march against land ordinance in Delhi.
17:46 IST Tuesday, 17 March 2015
We will appeal President to create pressure on this government, so this anti-farmers ordinance is not implemented, says Congress leader Kamal Nath.
17:35 IST Tuesday, 17 March 2015
Opposition parties' protest march from Parliament
17:20 IST Tuesday, 17 March 2015
Congress President Sonia Gandhi at Gandhi Statue in Parliament premises, will take part in opposition protest march
Questioned over the issue, Delhi Police Commissioner B S Bassi said, "If there is a demonstration, we prohibit it. But if somebody walks why would we stop them?" He also said that police would ensure that no violation of rules takes place. "Whatever security arrangements are required, (it) will be done."
Former prime minister and JDS chief H D Deve Gowda, CPI(M)'s Sitaram Yechury, CPI's D Raja, Trinamool Congress leader Dinesh Trivedi, SP's Ramgopal Yadav, DMK's Kanimozhi, INLD's Dushyant Chautala and RJD's Prem Chand Gupta are the part in the march.
Meanwhile, the NDA Government proposes to have another round of discussion with Opposition on the Land Bill before moving it in Rajya Sabha.
Earlier this month, the Lok Sabha passed The Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (Amendment) Bill, 2015 amid a walkout by opposition parties even as the government moved nine amendments to address concerns raised by farmers.
Shiv Sena, an ally of the Bharatiya Janata Party, abstained during the voting.
The proposed legislation removes the need for obtaining consent of land-owners and carrying out social impact assessment (SIA) for acquiring land under certain categories—precisely the provisions which had raised the heckles of critics.
The bill faces a tough call in the Rajya Sabha where the government is in a minority.
The bill will replace an ordinance promulgated by the government in December last year which amended the earlier law passed by the Congress-led UPA in 2013.
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