Modi in 'amazing hurry' to 'grab' land of farmers by re-promulgating Land Ordinance for 3rd time: Rahul

New Delhi: Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi once again launched a blistering attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi by accusing him of being in an "amazing hurry" to "grab" land of farmers by re-promulgating Land Ordinance for the third time since December 2014.

Rahul, who has been leading the party's fight against the Land Acquisition Amendment Bill, tweeted, "Modi ji in an amazing hurry to grab land from poor farmers at any cost. A third attempt at pushing the anti-farmer Land Ordinance! Congress Party will continue to fight for the rights of the kisan and mazdoor against this 'suit boot ki sarkar'."

The Cabinet on Saturday approved the re-promulgation of the Land Ordinance after the government failed to get the Bill passed in the Budget session of Parliament as it is in minority in Rajya Sabha. The Congress leading the opposition parties and with Rahul spearheading the fight, it is in no mood to relent.

Hitting out at Modi, senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said, "NAMO now means 'no acts, make ordinance'. There is no need to re-promulgate the ordinance. The joint panel is looking into the bill, they should work independently. Joint panel's recommendations will be submitted to Parliament soon."

The Modi government decided to re-promulgate the controversial Land Ordinance, saying it is necessary for maintaining continuity and providing a framework to compensate people whose land is acquired.

Once approved by President Pranab Mukherjee, the Ordinance would have been promulgated for the third time and will be the thirteenth executive order of the Modi government since it came to power in May 2014.

The land ordinance was promulgated for the first time in December 2014 to amend the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013.

The Ordinance was replaced by a Bill. Despite being passed in Lok Sabha with 10 official amendments, the government has not taken it to Rajya Sabha as does not have required numbers there.