In his branded radio-show, Mann Ki Baat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused the opposition of spreading "lies" about his Land Bill to create confusion among farmers. The Congress, which is in the vanguard of the protest against the Bill also said the same: that Modi is lying.
In response to Mod's charge of creating "confusion" among farmers, the Congress said something similar: that Modi and the BJP government are creating a smokescreen.
Representational image. AFP
"I am surprised that all kinds of misinformation is being spread," said Modi in his radio-talk. In response former environment minister and Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said: "His 'Mann ki Baat' was full of lies. He has tried to spread myth."
So, the principal parties in the debate have called each other liars and accused each other of obfuscating (smokescreen, confusion); but where is the truth? Who is lying and who is telling the truth?
Unfortunately, Modi's words on the radio lacked details even as he insisted that his government is farmer-friendly and that he wanted to improve the lives of farmers. He even said that he didn't want farmers to end up on the margins of the cities, but to live in cities when their lands develop. But, he didn't have the specifics either to convince the intended beneficiaries or to counter the Congress charge that he was talking through this hat."Our intention is only to see that farmers benefit, their children benefit, villages benefit. So if there are any lacunae in the law, these must be addressed. This is our priority," was his refrain.
But, did he say how? Did he counter charges against the main lacunae of the NDA's version of the bill, according to the opposition, such as dropping of two critical conditions for big ticket land acquisition such as a social impact assessment and consent by 70 per cent (80 percent for private projects) of the land-owners? The NDA hasn't relented to the opposition on these changes, but simply brought in five categories which pretty much covers all big projects.
Instead, what Modi said on radio was that there were lacunae in the 2013 Act, which his government has addressed: "In the Act of 2013 there were certain lacunae... Our attempt is to address these lacunae to ensure that the law is beneficial for villagers, farmers, their future generations and to ensure they get electricity and water." He went on to add that he was still willing to make changes if somebody feels that something was lacking. The opposition has raised two sore points and Modi is silent on them even while promising improvements.
Instead of the specifics, Modi's words are rhetorical: "Rumours are being spread that Modi is bringing the law to reduce compensation. I can't even think of committing such a sin... Such misinformation is being carried out for political reasons. You have to guard against them," he said.
So in this political war of words, truth is the casualty. Who do the farmers believe? The government or the opposition? Unfortunately, the charges of the opposition are worrisome and the government has tried to address them with emotions than with reason. The vulnerability of farmers' interests to the interests of the private sector, whether it is for exclusively private enterprises or public private partnerships, as raised by the opposition is not a mirage because the two safeguards that the government has dropped make the Bill sufficiently porous.
The opposition is united on the cause and now the possibility of Anna Hazare becoming the magnet of anti-government sentiments looms large. Although many state governments had supported the new Bill, there will still be political opposition. In Tamil Nadu, the DMK has already pledged support to Anna's agitation against the Bill.
If the BJP is convinced that the Bill is pro-farmer and pro-poor and not pro-rich and pro-corporate, it should engage in a transparent public debate with the opposition. Calling each other liars doesn't help remove the smokescreen. The Bill has the potential to displace millions of farmers and rural populace from their lands and ecology. The potential social impact of big industries on their lands and their resultant displacement, and the need for informed consent cannot be overlooked.Unfortunately, these are the same critical points that the BJP is trying to gloss over with emotional promises.
Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang
Modi's land bill: Farmers are the casualty in BJP, Congress' politics of words - Firstpost
Dengan url
https://goartikelasik.blogspot.com/2015/03/modis-land-bill-farmers-are-casualty-in.html
Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya
Modi's land bill: Farmers are the casualty in BJP, Congress' politics of words - Firstpost
namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link
Modi's land bill: Farmers are the casualty in BJP, Congress' politics of words - Firstpost
sebagai sumbernya
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar