New Delhi: Despite strong Opposition protests, the government on Monday introduced the contentious Land Acquisition Bill in the Lok Sabha. Opposition MPs claimed the Bill could not be introduced as a similar legislative proposal was earlier passed by the Lower House.
As the ruling NDA is in a minority in the Rajya Sabha, the Bill is likely to be sent to a joint committee. Sources said Darjeeling BJP MP S.S. Ahluwalia is likely to head this committee.
Speaker Sumitra Mahajan rejected the contention of the Congress, Trinamul, Biju Janata Dal, the Left parties and others in the Lok Sabha that a similar measure was “pending” in the Rajya Sabha. The Speaker said no rule barred the introduction of a Bill while a similar one was pending in the Upper House. She said “there is no Bill identical to the one being proposed that is pending”.
