Chandigarh: Rubbishing that NDA's Land Bill is anti-farmer, Union Minister Birender Singh said on Friday that opposition parties, any individual or farmers themselves can give suggestions regarding the bill to the government.
"...Farmers can give suggestions, other parties or groups can come forward and we will have no hesitation in accepting anything which is in the interests of farmers," the Union Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj said addressing a press conference here.
Singh, who along with senior officials held the conference to give out details of the works done and achievements of past one year, said "the Congress should not make it like a matter of prestige as if the Land Act of 2013 brought by the previous UPA was the best the country can have."
"Prime Minister Modi (and I have) also said on several platforms that in the interest of farmers, if there will be need to make further amendments, that will be done. Why should the whole thing be made as a matter of prestige," he said.
Some parties due to political considerations are adamant on not see anything beyond the UPA's 2013 Act. Such a thing is not possible in a democratic set up, Singh said.
Singh rubbished charge of opposition that government wants to benefit the corporates.
"This is absolutely baseless. On record, I have been so many times telling, and this is also from party (BJP) President Amit Shah and even Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made it clear that not even a single inch of land will be given to any private company or any corporate.
I still maintain that there is nothing doing as far as corporate sector is concerned. We have not done it for them," he asserted.
He further said, "I still repeat that if any suggestion from any quarter comes which is in favour of farmer, we are ready to accept."
Asked if private sector wants to set up projects like thermal power plants, will government acquire land for them, he said, "for that purpose consent clause and other things will be applicable... For private venture, government is not going for acquisition."
