Why the Opposition needs to support Modi on Land Acquisition Law

• "On the saline land where nothing can grow,
• The sun-burnt land, lying fallow,
• Those ushering in the paradise will rule."
•                                                            - Firaq Gorakhpuri

In 1841, the British Prime Minister Lord Derby said in the House of Commons, "The duty of an Opposition is very simple… to oppose everything and propose nothing." This holds true in today's India and its 16th Lok Sabha where the debate over the Land Acquisition Bill has been fierce, with the Opposition, well, opposing the amendments to the bill that Modi government wants to introduce.

The history of land acquisition in India dates back to 1824, when the first land acquisition legislation - the Bengal Resolution I of 1824 - was enacted by the British government. The law enabled the government to "obtain, at a fair valuation, land or other immovable property required for roads, canals or other public purposes". In later years, land acquisitions have been appropriated by various governments to suit the economic roadmap of the country. Just recently, the UPA led government was instrumental in getting the Land Bill passed in August 2013 as "The Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013" and it came into effect on 1 January 2014. At the time, the Congress-led UPA government passed the new act after all-party consultations, and the BJP supported the Bill.

Now, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government is keen to make amendments to the bill that will change how land is acquired and how owners are compensated in India. This is pertinent to his "Make In India" initiative that aims to attract foreign investment and boost Indian manufacturing by providing zero infrastructure bottlenecks and red tape - these issues have delayed or led to permanently shelving of several investment plans and projects in the last decade.  

The opposition to land acquisition has been articulated to defend the interests of farmers. However, the Opposition falls short of comprehending the clauses that clearly adhere to protecting the interest of farmers and land owners such as detailed clause on consent, share in the sale of acquired land, income tax-exemption, strict restriction on multi-crop acquisition, safeguards to ensure safe price, damage to crops be included, share in developed land, additional rehabilitation and resettlement benefits and time-bound social impact assessment. While the Opposition cries foul that the amendment is nothing short of  "rationalising dispossession", it fails to understand the need for such an act to build the much necessary rural infrastructure such as roads, schools, housing, hospitals and irrigation projects.

According to an HSBC Global Research study done last month, around a third of the top 100 stalled projects in the CMIE (Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy) records, are stuck due to land acquisition issue. The ministry of finance estimates that the stock of these stalled projects amounts to Rs 18 trillion and that more than half of these are from the infrastructure sector. The Modi-led government is trying to weave a development story for India where the farmers will not only have regular source of livelihood and a share in future growth of the country, but also the new law empowers federalism as the consent clause is left with the respective state governments.

The government crossed its first hurdle with The Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (Amendment) Bill, 2015, popularly known as the land bill, being adopted by the Lok Sabha after debating in detail for two days. However, its biggest hurdle is the Rajya Sabha, where the government lacks the requisite numbers to push it through, this, despite carrying out nine amendments and adding two clauses to the bill, in a concerted effort to soften its allies and tackle objections raised by Opposition parties.

This time, I hope the Opposition parties will take a constructive approach and support the government to ensure the Bill is passed in the Rajya Sabha and the country is set on the path of real time growth and development that will benefit every Indian.