New Delhi: Railway Minister Mamata
Banerjee on Tuesday indicated her opposition to the proposed
legislation on land acquisition, asking why it has not been
placed before Parliament as yet.
"Why has it not been tabled in Parliament so far?,"
Banerjee, whose Trinamool Congress has led protests against
land acquisition in West Bengal for various industrial and IT
projects, sought to know when confronted by reporters here.
Replying to questions on the proposed Bill being
passed by the Union Cabinet, Mamata said detailed discussions
were held on the matter with UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi
during which she asserted that no decision could be taken
"without our consent".
"If there is a dispute we will not acquire land
forcibly. If the people give their land then we will purchase
it," Banerjee said while rejecting charges that Railways was
acquiring land forcibly.
She also accused the Left Front government in West
Bengal of "misleading the people" on the issue.
Banerjee also dismissed as false reports that the
government was acquiring 2,500 acres of land for the Dedicated
Freight Corridor in Uttar Pradesh and said Railways needed
only 140 acres.
Bureau Report
