Journalism of Courage
Caught in a perception war, the BJP is now dragging its feet on the controversial Land bill. Party sources claimed that the government is unlikely to take up the Land bill in the Monsoon Session, beginning on July 21, unless it could find a meeting ground for the government and Opposition.
“The party’s stand is that we should not take it as a prestige issue as of now and should not push for it while antagonising friends and foes. The party does not want the government to add to its woes ahead of crucial Bihar elections. So the message is to go slow on it,” said a party leader.
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He added that the Joint Parliament Committee, which is examining the bill, is also likely to get an extension it has sought from the Lok Sabha Speaker. A top official in the government had earlier said the BJP-led NDA is “not at all in a hurry” to get the Land Bill passed. “Why should the government be in a hurry? No work has stopped because the bill is not passed,” he said.
Sources say that with the Congress sharpening its attack on Vyapam scam and the Lalit Modi controversy, the bill is unlikely to get cleared in the Rajya Sabha this time too.
With pressure mounting from RSS affiliates too, the government looks willing to concede some ground.
