Land Bill cleared in Lok Sabha, faces tough Rajya Sabha test

New Delhi: The government managed to get the Land Acquisition Amendment Bill passed in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday after showing a lot of flexibility, accommodating a few of the Opposition’s suggestions offered in the two-day-long acrimonious debate in the Lower House in the form of nine additional changes.

The government now faces an uphill task in the Rajya Sabha, where the ruling alliance is in a minority.

After hectic parleys preceding the vote on the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (Amendment) Bill 2015, the government succeeded in getting its NDA allies on board, barring the Shiv Sena and the Swabhimani Paksha, while the BJD and TRS toned down their opposition.

Read: No exemption to social infrastructure plans in Land Bill

However, the Congress, Trinamul, Samajwadi Party, JD(U), Aam Aadmi Party and the Left stuck together as a bloc to vehemently oppose the Bill, and staged a walkout. The Shiv Sena and Swabhimani Paksha abstained during the voting on the bill.

Replying to the debate, rural development minister Choudhary Birendra Singh said the government had an open mind and would accept a few of the suggestions by members in the House. Consequently, Mr Singh moved a total of nine amendments.