UPA's land law a "conspiracy" against farmers: Jaitley

The law passed in 2013 had no provisions for military purpose, nuclear energy and for water resources schemes among other

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Thursday alleged that the Land Acquisition Law passed in 2013 under the United Progressive Alliance regime was a "conspiracy" to deprive rural areas of development and render landless people jobless.

"With an intention to serve their political interests, I can say the 2013 Land Acquisition Law passed during the UPA government tenure was a conspiracy to keep rural areas aloof from development and to keep landless people jobless," Jaitley said while addressing the inaugural session of two-day Madhya Pradesh Bharatiya Janata Party’s State Executive meeting.

He said in order to ensure development of rural areas and to generate employment for the landless people, the amendment in the bill was necessary. Jaitley explained at length provisions of the land bill passed by Lok Sabha, after resistance and deliberations, highlighting that unlike the 2013 law, it ensures development of rural infrastructure, housing for poor and landless persons and development of industrial corridors to generate employment for rural people.

The law passed in 2013 had no provisions for military purpose, nuclear energy and for water resources schemes among others, he said.

The Minister said that if the 2013 law is implemented, then schemes like Rural Electrification Scheme and Pradhan Mantri Gramin Sadak Yojna (PMGSY) will have to be closed as there is no provision for acquisition of land for such programmes.

Praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, Jaitley said India's stature has risen across the world and relations with neighbours have improved.