Refer Land Bill to select committee: Brinda

Visakhapatnam: Politburo member of CPM Brinda Karat has demanded that the UPA government should refer the draft Land Acquisition Bill to a select committee of the both Houses for further discussions.

Addressing a press conference here on Saturday, she said the proposed bill coming up for discussion in the budget session, was a dilution of the original bill and against the interests of the tribals. She welcomed the verdict of Supreme Court on mining in Odisha and said the apex court upheld the authority of Gram Sabha to control, manage and use of mineral resources in tribal areas.

About the Food Security Bill, she said 50 per cent of the urban poor and 24 per cent of rural poor were excluded from the purview of the bill. Many families would get only 25 kgs of rice in a month as per the provisions of the Bill instead of 35kgs being given now. "It is not food security Bill but food insecurity Bill," she added.