Land Bill tabled in Lok Sabha amidst protests by Opposition, BJP allies; Congress walks out

New Delhi: Amidst boycott by the Congress, the NDA government on Tuesday introduced the Land Acquisition Bill in the Lok Sabha. Not only the entire Opposition but also BJP's alles like the Shiv Sena and Swabhimani Paksha opposed the controversial Bill.

Sanjay Raut of the Shiv Sena said on protest against the Land Bill, "This is not a political protest. All parties should go, even the BJP leaders must go."

Raju Shetti, Lok Sabha MP from NDA ally Swabhimani Paksha, too opposed the Bill. He said, "Though we are in alliance with the NDA, still I strongly oppose the Bill."

Meanwhile, the Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha amidst ruckus. The Congress staged walkout from Lok Sabha over the Bill.

Samajwadi Party (SP) supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav declared that his party will protest against the Bill and said the government is not taking the Opposition on board on the issue.

Congress Lok Sabha MP Shashi Tharoor said, "We strongly oppose the Bill. It is is seen as an anti-farmer Act across the country."

He said the BJP should consider the protest against it. "If they won't (consider) then it will be problematic for them."

Tharoor sought to remind that the BJP itself had given its consent to pass the Bill during the UPA regime but now they are making amendments in it.

However, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told BJP MPs that the amendments to the Bill based on suggestions by the Congress-ruled states. He asked them to bust the "myths" propagated by the Opposition on the Bill.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidu said in the Lower House that the government will not be on the back-foot on it. "We want discussion and debate on the Bill. This is not the way to discuss."