Date:15.05.

2015

PMK Founder Dr. S. Ramadoss Statement

LAND ORDINANCE FOR THIRD TIME:

MOCKERY OF DEMOCRACY
The BJP government which failed to get the amendments in the land acquisition bill through the
Parliament, is contemplating the ordinance route for the third time as per the statement of the Minister
for Rural Development Birender Singh. This decision of the government against the welfare of the
farmers is highly condemnable.
Though there were few deficiencies in the Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement bill
enacted by the previous UPA government, it had many classes to protect the interests of farmers and
land owners. I strongly objected to the amendments in this bill proposed by this government to
favour corporates when it was promulgated in December 2014 itself. The government rejected the
opposition of many other political parties, farmers, civil society, media and public at large.
The bill to replace the ordinance was ultimately passed in the Lok Sabha with the support of parties
like ADMK which had the compulsion to escape from corruption cases. But since the bill did not get
through Rajya Sabha the government passed an ordinance for the second time. When the bill came
to the Parliament for the second time during the second part of the budget sessionit failed again due
to the strong opposition from the opposition parties. Yielding to the pressure from the combined
opposition, the bill was sent to the Parliamentary Joint Committee. Now the government is morally
bound to pass the bill with the amendments suggested by the Parliamentary committee.
Instead of taking steps towards this the government seems to be rushing to pass an ordinance for the
third time by the end of this month. Ordinances should be promulgated in rare emergency situations
when Parliament cannot be convened immediately. It is a temporary arrangement in unavoidable
situations. When the ordinance on amendment of the land acquisition bill was passed in the first
instance the amended bill should have been presented in the immediate next Parliamentary session
and passed. If the government felt there is not sufficient support to pass the bill it should have

Date:
abandoned its move to amend the bill with due respect for democracy. Instead the government is
trying to pass the bill through the back door by ordinance for the third time. It is a mockery of democracy
and an insult on parliamentary system of polity itself. The President of India should not give room for
this.
The proposed amendments to the land acquisition bill will cause serious harm to the farmers. Since
about 5 crore acres of land is already available as vacant land or government land there is no need to
further acquire land. The government should stop its adamancyto pass the bill and leave it to the
Parliamentary Committees decision and subjugate to its conclusions. It should abandon its efforts to
Yours,
pass an ordinance again.

(Dr. S.Ramadoss)