Haryana's Land Acquisition Bill Promotes Crony Capitalism: Ex-Chief Minister

Ex-Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda said the new law passed by the Haryana government disregards the landowners' consent in the land acquisition process and is against farmers' welfare.

Former Haryana Chief Minister and Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Thursday slammed the Haryana government for passing the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (Haryana Amendment) Bill alleging that many of its provisions are "anti-farmer" and promoted crony capitalism. Addressing a press conference, Mr Hooda said that the new law passed by the government disregards the landowners' consent in the process of acquisition of land and is against the farmers' welfare. "I have requested Haryana Governor Bandaru Dattatreya not to pass this bill to the President. If need be, we will protest against this bill," he stated. "The lands of the farmers are being snatched from them. They are not getting a Minimum Support Price (MSP) for the crops. The prices of fertilisers and pesticides have increased. This government has done nothing good for the farmers," he added.