New Delhi: Amid growing political opposition to the controversial land bill, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed on Wednesday asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take all political parties on board for the proposed law.
Speaking here at the Governing Council meeting of NITI Aayog, Sayeed also sought an end to the "one size fits all" approach for development and asked the Centre to give greater freedom and flexibility to states in adapting national policies to local conditions and constraints.
Referring to the perception created about the changes in Land Acquisition Act of 2013 being anti-farmer, Sayeed asked Prime Minister to take all political parties on board, including the opposition which has raised concerns over the changes recommended in the Act.
"Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, is not applicable in J&K," he said, while adding that J&K has been a frontrunner in bringing historic legislations on land reforms and anti-defection.
"We may still want to adopt some best practices in light of the changing situation," Sayeed said at the second Governing Council meeting, chaired by Modi.
The Chief Minister said while there were no disagreements over the issue of compensation, relief and rehabilitation, there were some concerns on consent and social impact assessment in the proposed changes.
Sayeed complimented the Prime Minister on promoting cooperative federalism and establishing NITI Aayog, which would take states on board on key policy matters, including economic issues.
He called for ending the contrived policy of "one size fits all" on the issue of development.
"The dream of becoming a strong nation will only be realised by building consensus with states and making them equal partners in country?s development," he said.
Sharing his state's perspective over the proposed changes in the Land Acquisition Act, he said as per agenda notes, some states and ministries have reported difficulties in the implementation of the 2013 Act.
Referring to the state's flexibility over the changes being proposed in the 2013 Act, Sayeed said his state has its own J&K State Land Acquisition Act.
"It may as such be desirable to build some flexibility in the Act. However, the most important consideration is that the investment climate should not be vitiated," he added.
Sayeed said his state has been grappling with the challenge of development in extremely difficult and trying circumstances for more than two decades now.
"What is needed to ensure inclusive development of all regions and segments of our society is an overall policy framework based on a complete consensus," he said.
The Chief Minister had earlier in March also, during the meeting of NITI Aayog's Sub Group of Chief Ministers on rationalisation of Centrally-Sponsored Schemes, urged the Centre to see from the same lens for forging a better match between policies and needs of the states.
Pointing out the difficulties faced by the state in acquiring land for flagship projects like laying of Railway Lines and construction of four-lane National Highways, Sayeed stressed upon dovetailing the component of employment with compensation for land, so as to provide some sort of economic security to the people who donated major chunks of land, their only source of livelihood.
