Press Releases Archive

Dismissing the shrill 'debate' over the Land Acquisition Bill as nothing more than political cacophony aimed at scoring brownie points, the LokSatta Party has offered an innovative solution to the current impasse over the law.

Urging all parties to refrain from petty politics and to analyse the issue objectively, LSP national vice-president Dr Ashwin Mahesh said we would be living in a fool’s paradise if we ignored the land needs of a large number of projects that are essential for India's development (such as infrastructure projects) or its security (defence projects). At the same time, he said, issues relating to land must be handled “carefully, fairly and lawfully” so that landowners get justice.

"Farmers have historically been cheated by the land acquisition law," Ashwin said. "The only way to ensure they are not cheated is to give farmers trade-able stake-holding rights in projects that come up on their lands."

Ashwin said any ‘compensation’ that is limited to the act of acquisition would continue to cheat farmers irrespective of the amount offered. “Land-losers should have the opportunity to benefit from projects in the same way as the promoters,” he suggested.

LSP’s senior leader and Delhi chief, Achyutam Kallani suggested that a win-win situation can be created if the land owners are given a right to buy-back a fraction of the land at acquisition cost plus a reasonable development cost so that the land-owner benefits from the future increase in market rates. In this context, the government’s move to allow 20% of the land to be bought back is welcome.

Achyutam also added that the LSP is strongly against the proposed clause that would make prior sanction from the government necessary to initiate legal proceedings against any erring official. Such provisions, he said, are not healthy for the rule of law. “Offences committed should be examined by the judiciary,” he said. “The government should not pre-empt prosecution of its officials.”

LSP national president Surendra Srivastava hoped good sense would prevail and the various parties would work together to safeguard the interests of farmers without jeopardising the country’s future.

Following is the LokSatta Party’s stand on various issues in the proposed law:

• LSP supports bringing all previously exempted 13 laws within the purview of the Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act of 2013 (LAAR) so that landowners can claim the benefit of compensation for projects covered by those 13 laws. It was a mandate of the original act in 2013 to bring all such laws in its purview after a year.
• LSP supports scrapping of the explicit clause of returning the land if unused for five years. Many large infrastructure projects have a high gestation period and it is not always possible to complete a project in five years. This clause should be modified by adding the following: “or any period specified at the time of setting up the project, whichever is later”.
• LSP supports in principle excluding certain categories of land use -- (i) defence, (ii) rural infrastructure, (iii) affordable housing, (iv) industrial corridors, (v) infrastructure projects -- from the purview of the consent clause, social impact audit, and the bar on using multi-crop irrigated land. However LSP is of the opinion that the list be pruned and specifically defined for only critical and narrow list of projects.
• LSP advocates addition of an explicit provision that the law may not be abused by any “private entity” or real estate behemoth to grab land and become land sharks under the pretext of ‘affordable housing’ — as has been witnessed over the years across the country.
• LSP believes the Social Impact Assessment (SIA) clause adds to the indirect transaction cost of the acquisition process. As long as adequate compensation and rehabilitation is provided, SIA in certain critical categories may not be necessary.
• LSP believes that even in sectors where SIA should be undertaken, the law/rules need to be firmed up and define the process clearly.
• LSP believes the definition of “PPP projects where Government holds the land” should be clarified further.
• LSP opposes the idea of Government acquiring land on behalf of private schools, hospitals and NGOs. Land dealings by such parties should be handled by themselves. LSP advocates keeping these outside the purview of Land Acquisition law.

LokSatta Party calls upon the Government and the Opposition to rise above the narrow political interests and negotiate the changes to the Land Acquisition Law which is fair, just and pragmatic. LSP urges urgency in this regard so that the impediments to our critical infrastructure projects are removed and the economic vitality is restored.

On International Women's Day, the Loksatta Party has called upon all citizens to come up with ideas to use the 'Nirbhaya fund' set up by the central government on the recommendation of the Justice JS Verma committee. LSP founder and chief ideologue Jayaprakash Narayan said it was a shame that the fund lies unused till date.

"When my dear friend, the late Justice Verma, asked us for recommendations after the ghastly Nirbhaya tragedy, a key proposal to set up a Nirbhaya Fund was accepted and a budget allocated," JP recalled. "It angers me that not a single rupee of this fund, now Rs2,000 crore, has been put to use! We don't need another reminder of the dismal state of our governance and the lethargy in every layer of government."

JP said it was important to think about the India we want for all of us, including women. "On this Women's Day, LokSatta Party is seeking ideas from all citizens on how to utilise this fund. It is my personal commitment to take the best of these ideas to Delhi and not rest until they are put to action," he said.

Addressing the press, LSP president Surendra Srivastava said, "We walk the walk. Unlike other parties that pay only lip service to women's empowerment and participation in the political process by fielding proxies and heirs, LSP is being built for women, by women. I am proud that every single aspect of our party, at the national and state levels, be it strategy, leadership, organisation development or ground-level protests, is headed by young and dynamic women who are not only passionate about politics but know what they are talking about."

Elizabeth Seshadri, who chairs the party's national legal committee, said, "LSP had provided a robust set of policies and changes to legislation to replace the antiquated half-measures that currently pervade our law. While some of our recommendations were implemented, several were left out, like fast-track local courts for speedy justice in sexual harassment cases. This must be remedied on priority."

Wishing all Indians and, in particular, women on Women's Day, LSP national general secretary Hyma Potineni urged girls and women to "set themselves free and occupy the playgrounds of the country's towns and cities".

Rejecting the patronising protectionism and overt misogyny of the BJP, proxy female leadership of a near extinct Congress, and empty rhetoric unsupported by action from the Aam Aadmi Party, she demanded not just a day for women but the entire year. The call to take over playgrounds is part of a year-long campaign by the party to unshackle women from regressive social conditioning and empower them.

"Everywhere I see, there are only boys or men at playgrounds," Hyma said. "Girls and women are excluded and seem to have renounced physical activity." If the public mindset is to change, she said, women must lead that change. "We demand that local governments create the infrastructure and ecosystem, including grounds, toilets and facilities, to enable girls and women to participate in and enjoy sport!"

The general secretary said LSP does not agree with the regressive thought that women must be protected. "We believe the fundamental guarantees provided by our Constitution must be enjoyed by every single citizen of this country. Women's right to freedom of movement, livelihood, education, and living with dignity are what we will fight for,” she said.

Those wanting to contribute to the cause can visit www.loksatta.org/nirbhaya and share their thoughts. The web page was launched by national spokesperson Jagadheeswaran Dhakshinamoorthy on Sunday.