Decision on land bill issue not a setback, says BJP

NEW DELHI: Rejecting the Congress’ allegation that the gover nment took a U- tur n on the Land Bill issue, the Bharatiya Janata Party said on Monday that the fact it wasn’t issuing another ordinance would not be a setback for the Centre.

“There is no setback. It is not going to affect our commitm ent for reform. Th e government is committed to development, to create jobs... Reforms are required. That is why we have done that ( brought the ordinance). If anybody has taken a U-turn, it is the Congress,” said Nirmala Sitharaman, commerce minister, at a joint press conference with rural development minister Chaudhary Birender Singh.

She also expressed confidence that this will have no impact on the passage of the Goods and Services Tax Bill, saying that she hoped “good sense would prevail on the Congress.”

Singh said that the government had brought in the ordinance last December because a larg e number of states, including those ruled by the Congress, had demanded changes in the 2013 law saying acquisition was not possible under it.

“Now since it has been left to states to come out with their own land bills in tune with their needs, it has to be seen now whether the Congressruled states retain the provisions for taking consent of farmers and social impact assessment,” he said.

Reforms are required. That is why we have (brought the ordinance). If anybody has taken a U-turn, it is the Congress NIRMALA SITHARAMAN, Commerce minister