Land, other key Bills to come up in Parliament session: Venkaiah

"The Land Bill is the need of the hour. We are running against time to catch up with lost opportunities. The world is moving faster. India cannot lag behind. Parliament should prove to be an enabler rather than a playing ground for political and obstructionist battles," he told reporters here.

Stressing that the Land Bill has been brought after extensive consultations involving states, including those ruled by Congress, and other stakeholders, Naidu said Congress is opposing the Bill for the sake of opposition.

The NDA government has made amendments to the Land Bill in the wake of suggestions made by many, including Congress leaders like former Commerce Minister Anand Sharma and ex-Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, he said.

"But unfortunately, Congress party, for political reasons, is trying to oppose this for the sake of opposition. Please do not oppose for the sake of opposition. Be constructive," the Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister said.

Referring to some news reports, he alleged that Congress leader Jairam Ramesh spread misinformation on the Land Bill.
    

Find Latest News from Latest India News

First part of Budget Session 'productive', says Naidu

Naidu also said the first part of the session has been the most significant and rewarding of the four sessions of Parliament since the Government assumed office in May 2015.
  
"Parliament has enabled the beginning of a new era of transparent governance in the country by ending government's discretion in allocation of minerals which has come to be a cesspool of corruption and malpractices," he said on the passing of Mines and Minerals, and Coal Mines bills replacing respective Ordinances.
  
"I would rate these two legislations at the top of the major outcomes of the Budget session so far," he said, adding that passing of the Insurance Bill hiking FDI in insurance sector is the next major outcome. "I thank Congress for their support."
  
"I would like to have these two legislations passed unanimously. But our friends in some parties had different ideas. They in effect, wanted us to ask the states if they wanted to end or not the discretion in allocation of minerals and the attendant corruption. I am happy that this contingency has been averted," he noted.
  
On the Land Bill, he said it was a collective demand of states who wanted changes in the Land Acquisition Act of 2013 to enable land acquisition with less hurdles and keeping practicality in view like in the case of the number of years after which the land acquired is to be returned to owners if it was not used.
    

Find Latest News from Latest India News