In the backdrop of controversies over land acquisition,Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday led a delegation of young MPs to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh,seeking introduction of the new Land Bill in the current session of Parliament. The delegation met the Prime Minister at his residence in the evening and presented a memorandum in this regard. "We understand that this Bill has received broad support from across a wide cross-section of society. We urge that this Bill be introduced in this monsoon session of Parliament itself. We urge the government to take steps to ensure that the Bill is brought for debate and passage in the winter session of Parliament," the MPs memorandum said. It said "we welcome this Bill and believe it is in keeping with the interests of the people of India and the priorities and policies of the Congress Party." The delegation sought that after the Bill is introduced,it be referred to the Standing Committee for providing opportunities to the public to send their comments and suggestions. They told the Prime Minister that the Ministry of Rural Development has circulated a draft Land Acquisition and Rehabilitaton and Resettlement Bill,2011,for public debate,as well as for inter-ministerial consultations. Among the MPs who signed the memorandum along with Rahul Gandhi are Arun Yadav,Bhakta Charan Das,Pradeep Majhi,Thokchom Meinya,Harish Choudhary,Sachin Pilot,Uday Pratap Singh,Deepender Singh Hooda,Vikrambhai Maadam,Raghuvir Singh Meena,P.T. Thomas,Ravneet Singh Bittu,R Dhruvanarayana,Raj Babbar and Anantha Vekatarami Reddy.
