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Facing strong opposition from within and outside, the Centre is veering around to the States’ demand of ‘flexibility’ in framing their own land laws till the passage of the Land Bill.
The majority of the 16 Chief Ministers, who attended the NITI Aayog Governing Council meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, felt that either the Centre should build consensus and pass the law quickly or give States the flexibility to make their own law.
While the Chief Ministers of all the nine Congress-ruled States boycotted the meeting, the Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, and Andhra Pradesh did not attend due to previous engagements. The meeting was called to seek States’ views on the new land legislation, which is to replace the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013.
Briefing newspersons about the meeting, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said: “Towards the end, the PM said that we will factor all these views and take our decision.”
Jaitley said that nobody disputed that land is required for development of infrastructure, industrialisation, housing, and for creating jobs. Only, some advocated a cautious approach, he said.
Bihar’s Chief Minister and JD (U) leader Nitish Kumar opposed any change to the 2013 legislation, while Delhi’s Arvind Kejriwal suggested continuing with the old law for some more time.
Even some BJP-ruled States expressed reservations about the new Bill. Maharashtra led the chorus on the flexibility issue. Jaitley shared Maharashtra’s concern.
In his opening remarks, the Prime Minister said the political deadlock over the Land Bill is seriously impacting rural development. He reiterated that on paying enhanced compensation, there are no differences in the stands of the Centre and the States. He said that politics should not hinder a solution. The matter is before the Parliamentary Standing Committee and, therefore, ahead of the upcoming monsoon session, it was appropriate that the suggestions of States be listened to, once again.
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