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The ninth round of talks between the government and protesting <keyword id="3627663" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="farmer-unions">farmer unions</keyword> will take place on Friday as scheduled. Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said the Centre is looking forward to positive discussions with the farmers. Tomar said the government is ready to hold discussions with farmer unions leaders with an open mind. Earlier, talks between the farmer unions and the government did not make much headway in breaking the deadlock. Also, earlier this week the <keyword id="6354977" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Supreme-Court">Supreme Court</keyword> appointed a four-member expert panel to hear farmers' grievances. However, a key member of this proposed <keyword id="47865" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="committee">committee</keyword> subsequently recused himself. In this backdrop, Tomar said the talks between the government and the farmer union representatives will take place as scheduled on January 15 at <keyword id="476046" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Vigyan-Bhavan">Vigyan Bhavan</keyword>. Bharti Kisan Union (Lakhowal) general secretary Harinder Singh Lakhowal, who is part of the farmers delegation, said the farmer unions will hold discussions with government on Friday as scheduled. When queried on the main point of discussion during the talks, Lakhowal replied that farmers have two demands, the first is the repeal of the three farm laws, once this is met then the farmers will place their second demand. However, farmer unions have consistently maintained that they won't appear before the court-appointed panel, as the members favour the laws. The three controversial laws are the Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020 and the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on <keyword id="9352883" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="price-assurance">Price Assurance</keyword> and Farm Services Act, 2020. Earlier today, Bhartiya Kisan Union president Bhupinder Singh Mann said he is recusing himself from the four-member committee. Expressing gratitude to the Supreme Court for nominating him on the panel, Mann said he would give up any position to prevent farmers' interests from being compromised. In a statement, he said that in view of the prevailing sentiments and apprehensions amongst the farm unions and the public in general, he is ready to sacrifice any position so as to not compromise the interests of Punjab and farmers of the country. "I am recusing myself from the committee and I will always stand with my farmers and Punjab," Mann added. On Tuesday, the top court had stayed the implementation of the three farm laws until further orders. In order to resolve the impasse, the top court also appointed a four-member expert panel, which had been tasked to submit its report before the court within two months. Apart from Mann, Shetkari Sanghatana (Maharashtra) president Anil Ghanwat, <keyword id="108578" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="International-Food-Policy-Research-Institute">International Food Policy Research Institute</keyword>'s Pramod Kumar Joshi and agricultural economist Ashok Gulati have been appointed by the apex court on the expert panel. Thousands of farmers, mainly from Punjab, Haryana and Western Uttar Pradesh, have been agitating at various Delhi borders since the last week of November. SEE ALSO:<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/the-indian-government-may-call-whatsapp-to-explain-why-its-new-data-sharing-terms-apply-in-india-but-not-in-europe/articleshow/80262586.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink"> The Indian government may call WhatsApp to explain why its new data privacy policy applies in India but not in Europe</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/world/news/trump-becomes-first-president-to-be-impeached-twice-as-house-charges-him-with-inciting-an-insurrection/articleshow/80260200.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">Trump becomes first president to be impeached twice as House charges him with inciting an insurrection</a>

Farmers' protest: Government to hold ninth round of talks today with farmer unions

New Delhi, The eight round of talks between the protesting farmers and the government on Friday failed to break the stalemate, and the next meeting will be held on January 15. Ahead of the talks, the government had expressed hope of positive results from the meeting while the farmers threatened to intensify the stir if their demand to repeal three contentious farm laws is not fulfilled. Farmer leader Gurbaksa Singh Barnala said that the farmers will intensify the stir and enter Delhi on Republic Day if their demands are not met. "There is no way forward but to repeal the three laws," he said. <keyword id="6355165" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="agriculture">Agriculture</keyword> Minister Narendra Sigh Tomar, <keyword id="53080" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Consumer-Affairs">Consumer Affairs</keyword> Minister <keyword id="6355222" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="piyush-goyal">Piyush Goyal</keyword> and Minister of State for Commerce and Industries Som Parkash represented the government at the talks at the <keyword id="476046" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Vigyan-Bhavan">Vigyan Bhavan</keyword>, while Agriculture Secretary <keyword id="6409049" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="sanjay-agarwal">Sanjay Agarwal</keyword> and other Ministry officials were also present. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/tcs-ongc-tata-power-punjab-national-bank-nhpc-and-other-top-stocks-to-watch/articleshow/80164057.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">TCS’ market share, ONGC’s borrowing, Tata Power gets new territories⁠— these and other top stocks to watch</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/whatsapp-is-forcing-users-to-share-personal-data-with-facebook-and-elon-musk-is-urging-people-to-switch-to-signal-a-smaller-encrypted-messaging-app/articleshow/80156317.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">WhatsApp is forcing users to share personal data with Facebook, and Elon Musk is urging people to switch to Signal, a smaller encrypted messaging app</a>

No breakthrough in govt-farmers talks, next round of talks on January 15

The sixth round of meetings between protesting <keyword id="45092" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="farmers">farmers</keyword> and the government ended after over five hours with the Centre saying that the two sides had reached consensus on two out of four key issues. The next meeting will take place on January 4. Addressing media persons after the meeting with 41 <keyword id="1588424" type="POSITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Farmer-leaders">farmer leaders</keyword> at Vigyan Bhavan here, Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said: "Today's talks were held in a very good environment and concluded on a positive note. We have had consensus on two out of the four issues." "Next meeting of government with farmers will take place on January 4." He said that the government and the farmers had reached agreement over the latter's demands to keep farmers out of the penal provisions of the Commission for the Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas Ordinance, 2020, and to withdraw the Electricity Amendment Bill 2020. "We discussed stubble burning and the government assured the farmers that their concerns will be taken into account. The electricity bill was also discussed... this has not been enacted. Farmers believe that subsidy will be withdrawn (under this)," Tomar said. The meeting started around 2.30 p.m. at Vigyan Bhavan with Tomar, Consumer Affairs Minister <keyword id="6355222" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="piyush-goyal">Piyush Goyal</keyword> and Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Som Parkash heading the government side. Agriculture Secretary Sanjay Agarwal and other Ministry officials were also present. Krantikari Kisan Union's Punjab President Darshan Pal, Bharatiya Kisan Union's Jagjeet Singh Dalewal and Balbir Singh Rajewal, Jamhuri Kishan Sabha Punjab's General Secretary Kulwant Singh, and Bharatiya Kisan Union Uttar Pradesh President Rakesh Tikait were among the 41 farmers union leaders taking part in the meeting. After five previous rounds of inconclusive talks, the government had hoped that this meeting would be "decisive" to end the agitation against three contentious new agricultural legislations enacted in September during the <keyword id="662516" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="monsoon-session-of-Parliament">Monsoon Session of Parliament</keyword>. The withdrawal of these laws is the first and the major demand of the agitating farmers. Earlier, the <keyword id="166166" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Union-agriculture-ministry">Union Agriculture Ministry</keyword> in an official letter had confirmed the resumption of talks mentioning a four-point agenda of the meeting that includes "modalities to be adopted for the repeal of the three Central farm acts; mechanisms to be adopted to make remunerative MSP (Minimum Support Price) recommended by the National Farmers' Commission into a legally guaranteed entitlement for all farmers and all agricultural commodities; amendments to be made and notified in the 'Commission for the Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas Ordinance, 2020' to exclude farmers from the penal provisions of the Ordinance; and changes to be made in the draft Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2020 to protect the interests of farmers". After a meeting at Singhu border -- a major protest venue on the Delhi-Haryana border, the farmer leaders, under the banner of All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKSCC), arrived at Vigyan Bhavan for the fresh talks reiterating that the "first and foremost demand of the farmers of India is to repeal the three farm laws and the Electricity Bill, 2020, every other demand only follows this". Thousands of farmers from Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh have been protesting at several borders of the national capital demanding the repeal of the three farm laws, among other demands. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/personal-finance/income-tax/news/income-tax-returns-filing-deadline-extended-to-january-10/articleshow/80029154.cms">Relief for taxpayers: Deadline to file income tax returns extended further to January 10</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/health/news/uk-approves-oxford-astrazeneca-covid-19-vaccine-for-emergency-use/articleshow/80023778.cms">UK approves Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/google-is-testing-a-shortcut-feature-for-tiktok-and-instagram-videos/articleshow/80021865.cms">Google is testing a shortcut feature for TikTok and Instagram videos</a>

Deadlock between farmers and the governments ends — agreement on two out of four issues

New Delhi, Farmer leaders belonging to more than 30 unions on Tuesday called for an urgent meeting to take a <keyword id="68581" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Decision">decision</keyword> on the invitation for talks from the Central government to discuss the issues on which they have been protesting for the last five days. The farmers meeting will happen at the Singhu border in which <keyword id="9726913" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="the-bharatiya-kisan-union">the Bharatiya Kisan Union</keyword> along with 30 other major farmer unions will participate. As the protest entered its sixth day on Tuesday and <keyword id="9115071" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="agriculture-minister-narendra-singh-tomar">Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar</keyword> invited the <keyword id="4684274" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Farm-leaders">farm leaders</keyword> to discuss the issues here at Vigyan Bhavan in the afternoon, the farm leaders will first discuss the invite among themselves. Thousands of farmers from Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh have been protesting at the Delhi border since November 26. Currently, these farmers have been protesting at Delhi's Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur borders on Delhi-Chandigarh, Delhi-Haryana and Delhi-Uttar Pradesh routes respectively demanding from the Centre to repeal three farm laws enacted in September by Parliament. The Agriculture Minister in a late Monday evening decision invited farmer leaders to talk on their issues on Tuesday while the meeting was earlier decided to be held on December 3. The move comes after a meeting held by Home Minister Amit Shah at his residence earlier on Monday in which the Agriculture Minister and several other senior <keyword id="58687" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bharatiya-Janata-Party">Bharatiya Janata Party</keyword> (BJP) leaders were present. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/kunal-shah-cred-raises-80-million-valuation-doubles-to-800-million-for-the-just-two-year-old-startup/articleshow/79502864.cms" style="">Kunal Shah’s CRED raises $80 million – valuation doubles to $800 million for the just two-year old startup</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/top-stocks-to-watch-dr-reddys-indiabulls-housing-mm-tata-motors-bajaj-auto-maruti-hero-moto-pnb-and-others/articleshow/79502563.cms" style="">Top stocks to watch — Dr Reddy’s, Indiabulls Housing, M&amp;M, Tata Motors, Bajaj Auto, Maruti, Hero Moto, PNB, and others</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/checkout-which-states-have-reimposed-curfews-and-restrictions-again-as-second-covid-19-wave-hits-india/articleshow/79366320.cms?upcache=2">Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand issue fresh COVID-19 guidelines,TN extends lockdown — these are the states reimposing curfews and restrictions</a>

'Delhi chalo' protest: Farmer leaders from over 30 unions to meet at Singhu border ahead of talks with Centre

The eighth round of talks between protesting farmer unions and the government is scheduled to be held on Friday afternoon as both sides look for a resolution to the over one-month-long deadlock on the issue of the three new <keyword id="9970645" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="farm-laws">farm laws</keyword>. Both sides have stuck to their respective positions, with agitating <keyword id="45092" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="farmers">farmers</keyword> taking out tractor rallies on Thursday to press their demand for rollback of the laws, and the Centre asserting it is ready to consider any proposal other than their repeal. The latest round of talks to be held at Vigyan Bhavan at 2 pm on Friday is crucial as the previous meeting on January 4 remained inconclusive. There was some breakthrough in the sixth round of talks on December 30 when the government conceded to two demands of the agitating farmers pertaining to power subsidy and stubble burning. The previous rounds of talks had failed to make any headway. Thursday's tractor rallies were taken out from protest sites near the Singhu, Tikri and the Ghazipur borders and also from Haryana's Rewasan as the unions asserted they would not accept the Centre's offer of amendments to the farm laws. According to them, these marches were a "rehearsal" for their proposed January 26 "Kisan Parade" to the national capital from different parts of Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh. Owing to the farmers' protest since late November last year, several routes connecting Delhi with its neighbouring states have been closed for traffic movement. According to Delhi Traffic Police, Singhu, Auchandi, Piau Maniyari, Saboli and Mangesh borders were closed on Friday as well. It advised commuters to take alternative routes via Lampur Safiabad, Palla and Singhu school toll tax borders. Traffic has been diverted from Mukarba and GTK Road, the traffic police force said, asking commuters to avoid Outer Ring Road, GTK Road and NH-44. It said Chilla and Ghazipur borders were closed for traffic coming from Noida and Ghaziabad to Delhi, and advised people to take alternative routes via Anand Vihar, DND, Bhopra and Loni borders instead. The traffic police said Tikri and Dhansa borders were also closed for traffic movement. Enacted in September, the three farm laws have been projected by the Centre as major reforms in the agriculture sector that will remove the middlemen and allow farmers to sell their produce anywhere in the country. However, protesting farmers have expressed apprehension that the new laws would pave the way for eliminating the safety cushion of the MSP and do away with the "mandi" (wholesale market) system, leaving them at the mercy of big corporates.

Farmers' protests: Eighth round of talks today, government stands firm on 'no repeal' of laws

<keyword id="6358777" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="New-Delhi">New Delhi</keyword>, Even as <keyword id="1588424" type="POSITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Farmer-leaders">farmer leaders</keyword> are scheduled to hold the sixth round of talks with the Centre in Delhi on Wednesday afternoon, a farmer leader has emphasised that they are still demanding the repeal of the three central farm laws and a law on crop MSPs. Asked about the farmers' agenda for the latest round of talks, All India <keyword id="1389579" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Kisan-Sabha">Kisan Sabha</keyword> General Secretary Major Singh Punawal asserted that they would again ask about the process to repeal the three laws and to bring a law on the Minimum Support Price (MSP). "Farmer leaders did not agree to discuss the proposals sent by the government earlier on because it talked about amendments to the new farm laws. But now, parleys will be held on the issues suggested by the farmers. We will like to talk on those issues only," Punawal added. The four issues suggested by farmer leaders for talks are -- the procedure to be followed to repeal the three central farm laws; procedure and provision for legal guarantee for procurement of crops at profitable MSP, as suggested by the <keyword id="1173767" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="National-Farmers-Commission">National Farmers Commission</keyword> for all agricultural commodities; amendments to The Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas Ordinance, 2020, to exclude farmers from penal provisions; and the procedure to withdraw the draft <keyword id="2653620" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Electricity-Amendment-Bill">Electricity Amendment Bill</keyword>, 2020, to protect the interests of farmers. As for the arrangement of food and drinks for farmer leaders at the Vigyan Bhavan, where the talks will begin at 2 pm, the farmer leader asserted that they would make their own arrangements. "It is not important that the government will make arrangements for food for farmer representatives or they will bring their own food. Fellow farmers have been making arrangements for food for those sitting on Delhi roads for the last 35 days, and so, we too will make our own arrangements for food; but the important thing is -- the Union government should listen to the farmers," he remarked. Meanwhile, the protest by farmers under the banner of Sanyukt <keyword id="329771" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Kisan-Morcha">Kisan Morcha</keyword> on Delhi borders continued for the 35th day on Wednesday. The farmers are demanding the repeal of The Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Production and Facilitation) Act, 2020; Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on <keyword id="9352883" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="price-assurance">Price Assurance</keyword> and Farm Services Act, 2020; and The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act 2020. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/these-are-some-important-changes-in-india-from-january-1-2021-new-year/articleshow/80021085.cms">From mandatory FAStag to quarterly GST returns — these are some important changes in India from January 1</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/heres-what-to-expect-from-maruti-mm-hero-bajaj-auto-and-other-automakers-in-december-month-2020-auto-sale/articleshow/80021695.cms">December auto sales estimates — Here’s what to expect from Maruti, M&amp;M, Hero, Bajaj Auto, and other automakers</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/google-is-testing-a-shortcut-feature-for-tiktok-and-instagram-videos/articleshow/80021865.cms">Google is testing a shortcut feature for TikTok and Instagram videos</a>

Farmers stick to core demands ahead of sixth round of talks with government today

New Delhi, Jun 17 () Requisitioning of hotels for hospitalisation of COVID-19 positive patients and as an extension of designated hospitals by the Delhi government has caused deep consternation and has come as a major blow to the sector, according to the hospitality industry. The latest trigger for concerns arose as Delhi government authorities on Tuesday issued an order asking Indian Hotels Company Ltd's (IHCL) iconic Taj Mahal hotel at Mansingh Road to have its rooms and premises be placed at the disposal of Sir Ganga Ram Hospital (SGRH) for using it as an attached COVID-19 facility. The Delhi government had earlier passed orders requisitioning other hotels for use as COVID-19 care units. Apex industry body Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI) on Tuesday wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi raising concerns regarding the orders by the state government for requisitioning of hotels for attaching them to hospitals and converting them into extended COVID-19 hospitals for patients. It said the infrastructure of hotels is not equipped to provide the specialized and critical care environment required by COVID-19 positive patients and hotel staff is neither skilled nor trained as healthcare professionals. The letter also mentioned that the hotels which are overtaken as an extension of COVID-19 hospital will face a significant economic and business impact. "We are quite surprised and wonder why government owned hotels like Ashoka, Samrat and Centaur are not yet requisitioned, whereas they should have been the first to been taken over, rather than making a beeline for privately owned hotels, given the number of issues involved with doing so," FHRAI Vice President Gurbaxish Singh Kohli said in the letter to the prime minister. Highlighting that government-owned large facilities such as Vigyan Bhavan would have been a better choice for requisitioning into hospital, the letter said that the state must requisition nursing homes, medical facilities and other hospitals, polyclinics, among others, with beds before requisitioning hotels. "There is no mention of responsibility by the concerned dept/government of any liability or eventuality subsequent to the requisitioning," it added. The letter also said that there was no specific time period mentioned in which the compensation is to be received by the hotels. This will cause a huge delay in settlement of bills and push the industry into further problems. On its part, IHCL in a statement said that while it would continue to cooperate with governments in their efforts during these times, its Taj Mahal hotel is in the midst of a renovation and is uninhabitable, especially for patients and doctors. "IHCL has been at the forefront of helping fight this pandemic. The company has extended all support to various states across the country including hosting doctors, medical fraternity and providing over 2 million meals till date. A number of our hotels are being used for quarantine facilities," a IHCL spokesperson said in a statement. In the case of Taj Mahal Delhi, the hotel is in the midst of a major renovation, which commenced much before lockdown started, and is uninhabitable, the spokesperson added "We will continue to cooperate with the government in their efforts during these challenging times," the statement said. Industry body CII's National Committee on Tourism &amp; Hospitality had earlier said that the notification requisitioning hotels for purpose of hospitalisation of COVID-19 patients and as an extension of designated hospitals has caused deep consternation within the industry and has come as a major blow to the hospitality industry that is already reeling under the pressure of revenue and job losses. On Tuesday's development, CII National Committee on Tourism &amp; Hospitality Advisor Dipak Haksar said, "We are at a loss to understand how a hotel under renovation with rooms that are not habitable including access to public areas will be used by patients and doctors". The criteria to attach a hotel that is undergoing renovation is baffling to say the least, he added. On Delhi High Court's order for hotels to operate as COVID-19 care units, CII said that while it respects the court's decision, it believes that conversion of hotels is not the best solution. Converting large spaces like stadiums as temporary hospitals/COVID facilities with pooled resources is the best solution to handle this, it added. "There are also concerns about the criteria for selecting some of these hotels which are quite far from the hospitals. A clear distinction must be made of hotels that are within 3-5 km radius, such hotels may be considered to be extensions for hospitals, but others at greater distances can be declared as best as quarantine facilities," Haksar said. The state government should also consider giving relief to the hospitality sector at this juncture by measures such as reducing electricity tariffs, deferring statutory dues and auto renewal of licenses including excise for the year, he added. The CII's Committee on Tourism and Hospitality also said that GST on hotel rooms needs to be waived off for hotels notified as extended hospitals, as rooms are occupied by patients for health care. It also pointed out that the tariff fixed for rooms, at Rs 5,000 including all meals and applicable taxes, is very low and shall result in additional losses. AKT RVK

Hospitality industry raises concerns over requisitioning of hotels as COVID-19 facilities 

In a concerted effort to tackle the menace of air pollution, <keyword id="71" type="POSITION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Prime-Minister">Prime Minister</keyword> <keyword id="6354477" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi">Narendra Modi</keyword> on Monday launched India's first Air Quality Index. The index will be operational in ten Indian cities to start with. 
 
The air quality index will inform the public about the level of pollution in the air on a daily basis in real-time. 
 
"Environment protection and development can go hand in hand," Prime Minister said while speaking on the launch event," in New Delhi's Vigyan Bhavan. 
 
"We had found God in plants even before Jagdish Chandra Bose ji discovered life in plants, as mentioned in Gita and Mahabharat," PM reminded the gathering. 
 
"If we bring change in lifestyle as minor as not using street lights on a full moon night, it will save substantial amount of energy. Until we actually bring a change in our lifestyles, all the other efforts will go in vain," PM stressed. 
 
He also took the occasion to re-emphasise his government's stand on land bill. "India has a lot of rumour-mongering. Nothing against the tribals or the people who live in forests is mentioned in the land bill. The country cannot run on manufactured lies," the PM said.

Now get to know how polluted the air is in a place before you visit it

In September of 2013, the <keyword id="26362" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Government">Government</keyword> of India made history when it overturned the draconian 1894 law on the subject of <keyword id="6364579" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="Land-acquisition">land Acquisition</keyword> and replaced it with a more humane (and vastly more comprehensive) regime. 
 
The new law titled the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act 2013 drew sharp responses from both sides of the stakeholder spectrum. Industry, almost universally decried the law as ludicrously difficult to implement, while farmer groups felt it didn’t go far enough in addressing historical injustices. Nonetheless, it was a huge victory on an issue that had been at the heart of almost every single land movement in independent India. 
 While in opposition, the <keyword id="14666" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="BJP">BJP</keyword> and its leaders had wholeheartedly supported the law and worked to ensure its passage. It was thus, surprising, when one of the very first exercises that the new Government embarked upon after being sworn into office was the organisation of a conclave to determine the challenges in complying with the new law. To this end, a conference of State <keyword id="45663" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Revenue">Revenue</keyword> Ministers was held at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi in June of 2014. It seemed strange that such a conference should be held when barely six months had passed since the law came into force (of which two months were taken up for the elections) to gauge the challenges of implementing a law which had barely been implemented. 
 The <keyword id="6355261" type="POSITION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Finance-minister">Finance Minister</keyword>, Arun Jaitely, issued multiple statements about the perceived shortcomings of the law along with possible amendments to the same. This culminated in an <keyword id="152892" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Ordinance">Ordinance</keyword> on new year’s eve i.e. December 31, 2014. The Ordinance was marked by a complete absence of consultation with the public at large (contrast this with the multiple recorded public consultations held on the 2013 Act including the uploading of every draft on the Ministry’s website) and was simply shared when it was promulgated. 
 
This Ordinance brought about major changes to the very structure of the law. It created a vaguely worded special category which contained activities exempt from seeking consent of the affected parties or satisfying the requirements of the Social Impact Assessment prescribed under the 2013 law. 
 
It posited additional qualifications for return of land and gave officers, who violated the law, the additional protection of sanction before prosecution. The special powers (known as the residuary power) to take actions to implement the law or to remove difficulties was extended from two years to five. 
 
This was, of course, in addition to the amendment that the laws contained in Schedule IV of the 2013 Act (relating to acquisition of land for special sectors such as railways, highways, atomic energy etc.) and which had been exempted for a year’s time from the application of the 2013 law, would now have to apply the provisions related to compensation and rehabilitation/ resettlement contained in the 2013 law. This was not a show of kindness, but rather a necessity, since the 2013 law contained a direction to amend the law within one year to bring the compensation and rehabilitation/resettlement amounts in line with the new law (though they could still follow their own process for acquisition). 
 Reaction to the Ordinance was almost unanimously negative. Having seen the impact of the new law <keyword id="45092" type="COMPANY" weightage="80" keywordseo="farmers">farmers</keyword> held multiple protests. Many acres of land had been returned by the Courts to long suffering victims of acquisition across the country in the span of the year since the law became operational. Public sector enterprises were being compelled to negotiate with farmers and land owners if they wanted their land. The land owner had been empowered by the State against the advances of the State. No land owner was keen to return to the arbitrary and capricious systems that had previously existed. As a result, leaders across political parties united in opposing the law. 
 Currently the law is being <keyword id="23259" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="debate">debate</keyword>d in <keyword id="6354721" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="parliament">Parliament</keyword>. It remains to be seen if the Government will yield to the various concerns being raised and dilute the provisions of the ordinance accordingly. So far, the Government has held firm. What can be said with certainty is that this debate will go a long way in contributing to how the legacy of the current Government will be written. 
 
(Muhammad A. Khan is an advocate who worked as the Officer on Special Duty to Mr. Jairam Ramesh in the Ministry of Rural Development. He, along with Mr. Jairam Ramesh, is the author of a book on how the new law on land acquisition was made, to be published by Oxford University Press in April 2015.)

You Searched For "Vigyan Bhavan" and got 9 results

Farmers' protest: Government to hold ninth round of talks today with farmer unions

IANS

No breakthrough in govt-farmers talks, next round of talks on January 15

IANS

Deadlock between farmers and the governments ends — agreement on two out of four issues

IANS

'Delhi chalo' protest: Farmer leaders from over 30 unions to meet at Singhu border ahead of talks with Centre

IANS

Farmers' protests: Eighth round of talks today, government stands firm on 'no repeal' of laws

PTI

Farmers stick to core demands ahead of sixth round of talks with government today

IANS

Hospitality industry raises concerns over requisitioning of hotels as COVID-19 facilities

PTI

Now get to know how polluted the air is in a place before you visit it

BI India Bureau

Land Bill: Rebooting the land acquisition debate

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