Divisive land acquisition amendment bill highlights India’s social cleavages

By Xie Chao Source:Global Times Published: 2015-4-27 20:58:01

Illustration: Liu Rui/GT



India's Land Acquisition (Amendment) Bill has become mired in protests and controversy. After managing to get it passed by the Lok Sabha (the lower house) in the first half of the budget session, the BJP-led government is trying to get it through the Rajya Sabha (the upper house) in the second half of the budget session that commences on April 20, but there is fierce opposition ahead.

The old Land Acquisition Act dates back to 1894, when it was labeled an oppressive and exploitative piece of colonial legislation. It was only in 2013, almost 66 years after India won independence, that the Land Acquisition Act 2013 was passed, offering much fairer terms to the many stakeholders involved.

Now the BJP government has decided to amend the 2013 bill to exempt five categories of projects, among which industrial corridors and infrastructure projects are most controversial.

It also exempts provisions that require the consent of 80 percent of land owners be obtained by private players and 70 percent of the land owners for public purpose projects. That's the reason why farmers are protesting strongly against the bill.

It's not unknown for democracies to pass laws that benefit specific projects. For instance Japan passed such a law to pave the way for its first Shinkansen (high-speed rail) construction in the 1970s.

But if Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP succeed, it will be the boldest legislation of its kind among democracies. Technically the amendment will give the green light to all infrastructure and industrial projects that the ruling government deems important.

Industrial circles welcome the amendment. They claim that the country needs the bill because the massive infrastructure projects initiated by the Modi government will be merely castles in the air if the bill stays the same.

However, critics say the bill will foster corruption and increase the power of vested interests who will use its terms to run roughshod over the poor, and farmers will be likely hurt by the bill, even though it ostensibly aims at growth and development.

Divergent opinions are found even among the ruling BJP itself. Its major leaders either remain salient or keep changing positions. Reports also indicate that the wider Hindu nationalist movements are divided on the bill.

Facing increasing criticism on the bill that the amendment benefits the richer class at the expense of the poor, Modi has made it clear that he and his party won't back down and stressed all his governance is aimed at helping poorer Indians."The World Bank, the US president … are all talking about India and its achievements," he said.

He also called for the wavering party leaders and members of parliament not to waste the time on those who are trying to "belittle the government's achievements."

Such aggressive gestures have agitated public opinion. Congress President Sonia Gandhi has taken the chance to reach out to and solidify all opposition parties. It is a signal that the grand old party is coming back, since a concerted and powerful campaign will re-energize grass-roots party members, whose morale has been somewhat low since last utter defeat in the 2014 general election.

It is difficult for outsiders to believe that a government is willing to put so many political resources on a mere amendment bill. The stakes are nonetheless much higher than it initially might seem since it includes the risk of defeat in the Rajya Sabha, especially when the opposition have majority seats in the upper house.

But that is how the story is unfolding, and it showcases how divided Indian society is. Modi and his government have lost much more than they could gain from the fight, even if they eventually triumph.

The author is a PhD candidate in the Department of International Relations, Tsinghua University, and currently visiting at the School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. opinion@globaltimes.com.cn



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