New Delhi, April 5
Eager to move on with reforms in the controversial land acquisition policy and put in place a legislative framework, the UPA government has called a meeting of political parties to iron out the differences amid stiff opposition from the Left and others.

UPA political managers have decided to meet leaders of parties in Parliament on Tuesday to break the deadlock after a meeting on the issue ended without any consensus on March 7.

Aware that it has a limited window of opportunity to push the legislation when both Houses of Parliament meet on April 22, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath has sent out the invitations for the meeting that would be attended by Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh, whose ministry is responsible for the legislation, and Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, who is the Leader of the Lok Sabha.

Leader of the CPM in Parliament, Basudeb Acharia, said Left leaders would demand that the Bill be referred to a standing committee of Parliament for scrutiny since the government itself has moved over 180 amendments to the proposed legislation introduced in September 2012. “We will insist that it be referred to a standing committee or at least joint select committee since it is virtually a new Bill and there are many aspects that need detail study. We are for enacting this legislation but it needs to be examined'', he said.Acharia, who heads the standing committee on agriculture, said he had moved 165 amendments and the minister responded stating that one will incorporated. For instance, he said, there is a provision for land acquisition in manufacturing zone that needs to be clarified and that at present there are some 16 land acquisition Acts in the country that need to be brought under an all- encompassing Act.

The official amendments relate to a number of issues like change in the consent clause, expanding the scope of public purpose, compensation levels and more.

From the government’s side, the Rural Development Ministry is keen to push the legislation as it conveys the commitment of the Manmohan Singh government and AICC chief Sonia Gandhi towards the welfare of the “aam aadmi.” Both Sonia and Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi are keen on getting the Bill a parliamentary sanction.