February 24, 2015
Trinamool opposes Land Ordinance in the Parliament
Trinamool MPs in both the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha today protested against the Land Acquisition Ordinance at the entrance to Parliament. The Trinamool Congress also gave notice for suspension of Question Hour in the Rajya Sabha today and pressed for a debate on the issue.
The issue was debated in the day’s proceedings. Trinamool was the only party to protest against it since the beginning, when the Bill was tabled.
In the Rajya Sabha, Trinamool Chief Whip Mr Derek O’Brien pointed out that in the last eight months, the Government has made a record for passing the least number of Bills compared to the number of Ordinances. He also pointed out that earlier Parliament followed the 3 D’s – Deliberate, Debate, Decide. The Government now only decides, he said, while opposing the Ordinance.
“We are happy that other parties have accepted the fact that the Land Acquisition Ordinance is not right for the farmers. We will not let this Bill pass,” said Derek O’Brien.
In the Lok Sabha, AITC MP Mr Saugata Roy pointed out that the Land Ordinance was the most anti-farmer and anti-poor legislation possible. While opposing the Ordinance, he pointed out that this legislation, if brought in, will be a death bed for farmers.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had said the situation under the present government was worse than that during the Emergency period, and her Government would not implement the proposed amendments under the Land Acquisition Act. She had instructed her party workers to stage a symbolic protest against the Ordinance by burning copies of the Bill.
On December 31, 2014, the Trinamool Congress had staged protest rallies in West Bengal and burnt symbolic copies of the Centre’s Land Ordinance, which was described as “black”.
Street rallies were organised by the party at Esplanade and Khidderpore in Kolkata, and at the block-level across the State as a mark of protest.
Trinamool Congress workers carried placards which read “We won’t accept the black Land Ordinance of the Central Government”. They also sported badges bearing the inscription, “We are not accepting the black Land Ordinance”.
