Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks in the Lok Sabha on Friday
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said that the land reforms he wants to introduce are necessary, because for decades, farmers lived with a law that was 120 years old and denied them their rights. "You allowed this," he said, referring to the opposition Congress which has governed India more than any other party and lost abysmally to Mr Modi and his BJP in last year's election.
"If despite all the benefits that the new reforms will bring, you feel there is any provision that is anti-farmer, I am willing to make changes to the proposal. Let us work together," he said in parliament, rebutting the accusations hurled by the opposition that his plans discriminate against farmers to benefit corporates.
Mr Modi has overhauled the law introduced by the previous Congress-led government to buy land from farmers for infrastructure and industry. "If your law was so good, why was the Congress wiped out in a series of elections?" the premier asked. He also pointed out that the same law had provoked objections from the heads of states including those where the Congress was in power. "Are we so arrogant that we will ignore the concerns of our Chief Ministers though we are meant to strengthen and work with federalism?" he asked
Earlier this week, sources said the PM was opposed to significant revisions to his proposal. But senior ministers like Nitin Gadkari have said they will take "good ideas" on board.
The proposed land reforms -seen as key for the government's economic agenda -were introduced in December as an ordinance or decree which will lapse if it is not approved by this session of parliament.The ordinance exempt projects in five categories including defence from a requirement for the consent of 80 percent of affected landowners for any deal. It also ends the need for companies to conduct a social impact study of such projects, which would involve public hearings and, industry executives fear, drag on for years.