Press Note on Land Acquisition Ordinance and JPC

31st May, 2015

The All India Kisan Sabha strongly condemns the BJP-led NDA Government’s re-promulgation of the Land Acquisition Ordinance despite widespread protests. This move comes even as a Joint Parliamentary Committee is looking into the Land Acquisition Legislation of 2013 and the Amendments proposed by the BJP Government to it. The move smacks of utter disrespect for democratic procedures by the BJP and Narendra Modi led Government. The Modi-led Government which failed to get Parliamentary approval for their Amendments has shamelessly taken the Ordinance route for the third time for facilitating corporate land-grab at the expense of millions of Farmers and other dependents on land. This decision just after the Joint Parliamentary Committee had its first meeting deliberately seeks to undermine the authority of the Committee. This move also speaks volumes of the BJP Government’s urgency to please the corporate sector and allow indiscriminate acquisition unhindered in the period when the JPC looks into the Land Acquisition Bill including these Amendments and Parliament finally approves the Bill.

AIKS Demands that the Ordinance be shelved and treated as null and void unless and until the Joint Parliamentary Committee completes its deliberations and the Parliament takes a decision on the Land Acquisition Legislation in its amended form. AIKS calls upon its units to protest against this undemocratic move and warns the BJP Government of intensified struggles if the interests of Farmers and other dependents on land are trampled upon.

AIKS also feels that the two week notice given by the Joint Parliamentary Committee for interested parties to make their submissions is grossly inadequate. This time will not be sufficient for widespread discussion, public hearings and wide consultations. AIKS demands that the Joint Parliamentary Committee must reach out to the farmers and workers of this country and hold wider consultations, public meetings and public hearings on the Bill. The majority of Indian citizens affected by land acquisition live in rural areas, so it is necessary and important to hold consultations to discuss the current draft in rural areas, especially where local communities have been affected by past or present experiences of land acquisition, rehabilitation and resettlement. The 1894 Land Acquisition Act was repealed and the Land Acquisition Act of 2013 was passed after lot of struggles, going through two Parliamentary Standing Committees and was debated within Parliament as well as outside for years. AIKS believes that a matter affecting the lives and livelihood of millions and also having serious implications for the food security of the country should not be hastily decided upon without proper deliberations. AIKS hence demands that the Committee extend the deadline for the submissions at least by a month until July 8th and also organise wider public consultations and hearings in affected areas, as has been done on previous occasions by the other Committees.

Sd/-

Amra Ram, President

Hannan Mollah, General Secretary