The voting in the Lok Sabha for the passage of the Land Acquisition, Resettlement and Rehabilitation Bill is in final stages.

Replying to the debate, on the Bill the Rural Development Minister, Jairam Ramesh dispelled doubts of the members about the forceful acquisition of land. He said the Bill gives powers to farmers to sell their land in a transparent manner.

Initiating the discussion, the BJP leader Rajnath Singh said the present Bill suffers from many infirmities which need to be addressed.

Describing the Bill as a landmark legislation, Meenakshi Natarajan of Congress said that it provides for acquisition, resettlement and rehabilitation in a transparent manner.

Mulayam Singh Yadav of Samajwadi Party advocated the conservation of farmers’ agricultural land. He said only infertile and barren lands should be acquired. Participating in the debate the members from other parties also pushed for safeguards to protect the interest of the farmers when the legislation is operation.