TMC opposes provisions in Land Acquisition Bill

With the Centre clinching a "broad consensus" on the contentious Land Acquisition Bill, the Trinamool Congress, which did not attend the meeting, said it was opposed to many provisions of the Bill.

"There is talk of reaching a broad consensus on the issue, which is not true," said Trinamool Congress leader in Lok Sabha Sudip Bandhopadhay.

"We made our stand very clear even before coming to power, that there should not be any government role in acquiring land for private parties," he said.

"We also oppose the 70/30 and 80/20 provisions in land acquisition," Bandhopadhay said, adding that this had been conveyed to Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh.

He said his party had sought seven clarifications from Ramesh, who had telephoned him twice in the last three days.

Ramesh had given four clarifications by email and noted the three others, Bandhopadhay said.

He said he had discussed the issues with senior TMC leaders Partha Chatterjee, Mukul Roy and Subrata Buxi.

Stating that private projects developers should acquire land 100 per cent through negotiations with willing land owners, he said, "But in case of government projects, the government should acquire land through negotiations. We are very transparent in the matter."