Budget Session Land Bill

Environment Minister introduced an amendment bill in Lok Sabha that seeks to bring clarity to forest conservation law and exempt certain categories of lands from its purview to fast-track strategic and security-related projects of national importance

It seems to be all over for the Modi government's ambitious land acquisition bill, which it was pushing till last year as a key legislation to boost economic activity by relaxing norms for acquiring land for industrial and infrastructure projects.

The government and Opposition have agreed to debate the JNU controversy in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, Day 2 of Parliament's Budget session. At a meeting this evening, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's message to the BJP's lawmakers was - "debate aggressively."

President Pranab Mukherjee has approved the land ordinance, which was cleared by the Cabinet yesterday for the third time after the government failed to convert it into law during the recently concluded Budget Session of Parliament.

It was expected but the re-promulgation of the land ordinance has once again come with more controversies. The Union Cabinet gave a go-ahead to the land ordinance for the third time today, after it failed to get support for the Land Acquisition Bill in Parliament in the face of a united Opposition.

The extension of Lok Sabha session by three working days has enabled the government to complete some of its crucial agenda including a bill against black money stashed abroad and another to amend the Whistleblowers Protection Act.

Union minister Nitin Gadkari today denied any wrongdoing as he confronted aggressive demands by the opposition in Parliament for his sacking over an auditor's report that indicts a company linked to him. The Rajya Sabha was adjourned a record nine times over the protests.

Accusing the Congress of trying to spread falsehood over Land Acquisition Bill, BJP President Amit Shah today said the legislation is "kisan mitra" (farmer friendly) and not 'anti-farmer' as dubbed by the Opposition.

The government has decided to extend session of Lok Sabha till May 13, informed sources said.

The last four days of the budget session of Parliament is expected to be stormy - with the government and opposition being at loggerheads over several key bills, including the flagship Goods and Services Tax bill.

The Budget session of Parliament ends in a little over two weeks and the Narendra Modi government is again running out of time to push its crucial land acquisition bill which makes it easier to acquire land for industrial and key infrastructural projects.

As it struggles to push its land reforms past an aggressive opposition, the Modi government has firmed up a strategy that will turn the rival parties into bystanders when it brings another key legislation, the Black Money bill, for Parliament's approval.

Hitting back at the Congress after Rahul Gandhi's barbs, the government today said the party was trying to bat for the farmers' interests after "looting" them for 10 years as it insisted that it was committed to provide relief to those in distress.

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi today spoke in the Lok Sabha in a debate on the agrarian crisis in the country. It was his first speech in the present House, which was constituted last year after the general elections in May. Rate his speech here:

The government tabled the controversial land ordinance in the Lok Sabha amid loud protests and slogan-shouting by the Opposition today, the first day of the second part of the Budget session.

Environment Minister introduced an amendment bill in Lok Sabha that seeks to bring clarity to forest conservation law and exempt certain categories of lands from its purview to fast-track strategic and security-related projects of national importance

It seems to be all over for the Modi government's ambitious land acquisition bill, which it was pushing till last year as a key legislation to boost economic activity by relaxing norms for acquiring land for industrial and infrastructure projects.

The government and Opposition have agreed to debate the JNU controversy in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, Day 2 of Parliament's Budget session. At a meeting this evening, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's message to the BJP's lawmakers was - "debate aggressively."

President Pranab Mukherjee has approved the land ordinance, which was cleared by the Cabinet yesterday for the third time after the government failed to convert it into law during the recently concluded Budget Session of Parliament.

It was expected but the re-promulgation of the land ordinance has once again come with more controversies. The Union Cabinet gave a go-ahead to the land ordinance for the third time today, after it failed to get support for the Land Acquisition Bill in Parliament in the face of a united Opposition.

The extension of Lok Sabha session by three working days has enabled the government to complete some of its crucial agenda including a bill against black money stashed abroad and another to amend the Whistleblowers Protection Act.

Union minister Nitin Gadkari today denied any wrongdoing as he confronted aggressive demands by the opposition in Parliament for his sacking over an auditor's report that indicts a company linked to him. The Rajya Sabha was adjourned a record nine times over the protests.

Accusing the Congress of trying to spread falsehood over Land Acquisition Bill, BJP President Amit Shah today said the legislation is "kisan mitra" (farmer friendly) and not 'anti-farmer' as dubbed by the Opposition.

The government has decided to extend session of Lok Sabha till May 13, informed sources said.

The last four days of the budget session of Parliament is expected to be stormy - with the government and opposition being at loggerheads over several key bills, including the flagship Goods and Services Tax bill.

The Budget session of Parliament ends in a little over two weeks and the Narendra Modi government is again running out of time to push its crucial land acquisition bill which makes it easier to acquire land for industrial and key infrastructural projects.

As it struggles to push its land reforms past an aggressive opposition, the Modi government has firmed up a strategy that will turn the rival parties into bystanders when it brings another key legislation, the Black Money bill, for Parliament's approval.

Hitting back at the Congress after Rahul Gandhi's barbs, the government today said the party was trying to bat for the farmers' interests after "looting" them for 10 years as it insisted that it was committed to provide relief to those in distress.

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi today spoke in the Lok Sabha in a debate on the agrarian crisis in the country. It was his first speech in the present House, which was constituted last year after the general elections in May. Rate his speech here:

The government tabled the controversial land ordinance in the Lok Sabha amid loud protests and slogan-shouting by the Opposition today, the first day of the second part of the Budget session.