Patna: Hitting out at the Narendra Modi government over the land acquisition ordinance, JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar today accused the Centre of working against interest of farmers to benefit industrialists.
“What was the need to bring the ordinance through ‘chor darwaza' (back door) in a hurry?” Kumar told reporters after a meeting of political advisory committee of JD(U). Ordinance is generally brought in case of emergency on some important issue which could not wait for Parliament to sit and pass the legislation, he said.
“One House of Parliament has already passed the bill on Land acquisition and the issue is pending in another issue. After two months Parliament will sit for budget session in which the legislation could have been introduced for approval,” he said and questioned the objective of the NDA government in showing hurry in bringing ordinance. “Without consulting farmers and wider discussion on the legislation in the House an ordinance has been brought,” the senior JD (U) said.
Kumar alleged the aim seems to be to buy land from farmers at “aune paune” (throwaway) price to benefit industrialists as part of the Centre's announcement to built big cities.
Making a scathing attack on the PM, Kumar said he sought vote in the name of farmers during election and now ignoring their interest to benefit industrialists.
Kumar also hit at Modi government for abandoning Planning Commission in favour of a NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India).
“NITI Aayog sounds nice but its functioning is not clear ...it seems to be a ‘khichdi',” he said.
“When its a Institute as the name suggests how come it be a Aayog (commission),” he said and highlighted lacunae in naming the new plan body.
“Its known that purpose of Institute is to conduct deep studies and bring forward some suggestions on an issue than how could it discharge function as a commission?” he asked. Despite objections raised by states like Bihar to do away with Planning Commission in the Chief Ministers' conference, the Centre ignored the objections and went ahead to abolish Planning Commission, he said.
“NITI Aayog ka koi matlab nahi hain (NITI Aayog will not serve any purpose),” he said.
Planning Commission used to devolve funds to states and different ministries on the basis of Gadgil formula. “Now who will devolve funds and in accordance with what formula?” he questioned.
Kumar, who quit as Chief Minister of Bihar in the wake of JD(U) debacle in the general election, said he and his party had always raised voice for greater participation of states in economic growth and devolution of tax revenue between Centre and states on 50:50 basis.
“But replacing Planning Commission with NITI Aayog is no proper solution,” he added.
“Is the BJP led government ending planned economy and handing over the country's economy to big corporate houses?” he questioned.
