NEW DELHI: Even as BJP appointed committee started engaging with the farmers’ organisations, the government on Thursday said that it was not going back on any of the ordinances including on land acquisition. The government added it was open to suggestions when the bills are taken up after the Budget.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said, "There is no question of going back on any of the ordinances. Whether it is the land ordinance, whether it is coal ordinance, whether it is the mines and mineral ordinance or whether it is e-rickshaw ordinance. All these ordinances will be pursued and then we want the Parliament to debate, discuss and decide.
Hinting at government reaching out to various political parties Naidu told reporters, "And I can also tell you one thing. We are in talk with all our friends, allies and supporting parties and we are confident all of them will be on board. There will not be any problems whatsoever. Certain apprehensions have been created.”
"Those apprehensions are being addressed to and we have already made it clear that well-meaning suggestions if any, they will be taken under consideration when we take up the bill in Parliament," Naidu added.
Meanwhile, BJP appointed eight-member committee has already started holding consultations with the farmers group on the issue of land bill.
Former Union Minister Satyapal Malik, who is the convener of the panel, said, "We are meeting people from various farmer unions and agricultural organisations and seeking their views to understand what their objections are to the clauses of the ordinance. We will give consolidated feedback to party president who will further consult with senior leaders and take a call."
"From the kind of feedbacks we have got so far during the consultation, we have gathered that people are generally not happy with the new amendments. There are certain perception issues too which we are explaining to them. However, if they still disagree on certain points we are including that in our report," he added.
Another member Gopal Agarwal said, " People are expressing their concerns. We are fighting more a battle of perception than facts. The concern is not only about the four amendments but the Land Act in general. We are for the interest of farmers and land owners and we will take care of their concerns."
"Another thing we have observed from the feedbacks is there is no dispute redressal mechanism if there are issues like compensation," he added.
Agarwal said that the committee will submit its feedback and recommendations by end of this week.