The Modi government is toying with the idea of allowing the land acquisition ordinance to lapse, even as it takes its political fight against the Opposition to the people.
The Modi government is toying with the idea of allowing the land acquisition ordinance to lapse, even as it takes its political fight against the Opposition to the people.
The ordinance is set to lapse on April 5, just two weeks before parliament meets again for the second part of the budget session. To re-promulgate the ordinance, which the Opposition has dubbed as anti-farmer, both Houses or at least one House would have to be prorogued.
The government was unlikely to take this route and would take up the bill after the recess, sources said. However, parliamentary affairs minister Venkaiah Naidu refused to disclose the government's strategy on the ordinance maintaining that it was examining all options. "I am not saying anything. I leave it to you. There are provisions available in the Constitution. There are precedents set by previous government," he was quoted by agencies as saying in Hyderabad on Monday.
The land acquisition bill took up most of the time at the three-and-a-half hour coordination meeting between top RSS and BJP leaders on Monday at union minister Nitin Gadkari's residence. BJP leaders said concerns of the RSS affiliates, like farmers and trade union wings and the Swadeshi Jagran Manch, were kept in mind when government made amendments to the bill in Lok Sabha and it was open to further changes.
The Sangh, which is worried about the Opposition campaign against the bill and the fallout it could have on BJP in elections in states like Bihar and West Bengal, is in favour of government trying to evolve a consensus on it. The Sangh will also highlight the positive aspects of the bill in villages, sources said. While the BJP leaders present included Rajnath Singh, Sushma Swaraj, Arun Jaitley, Nitin Gadkari and Amit Shah, the Sangh was represented by Suresh Bhaiyyaji Joshi, Krishna Gopal, Suresh Soni and Dattareya Hosabale.
With battle lines drawn on the bill, which has been passed in Lok Sabha, the government and the party are trying to fight what it calls the battle of perception. Prime minister Narendra Modi led the campaign on Sunday, mincing no words as he defended the bill. He said the government was only worried about welfare of farmers.
In Rajya Sabha, where the BJP is in a minority, it would find it difficult to get the required numbers for the bill which faces resistance from the entire Opposition. The government had managed to cobble up the numbers for passage of coal and mines and minerals bills, by dividing the Opposition. However, with the land bill becoming a political tool for the Opposition, the government may be forced to consider more amendments. After nine amendments in Lok Sabha, ministers have been indicating that it was open to suggestions.
Meanwhile, the government is all set to focus on the GST and black money bills after the recess.
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