Narendra Modi
Narendra ModiIANS

The Lok Sabha on Tuesday passed the land acquisition bill, which replaces an ordinance promulgated in December. The ordinance had amended the 2013 bill passed by the UPA government.

The land acquisition bill is under attack from farmer and civil society activists and faced protests by the Opposition parties.

The proposed legislation removes the need for obtaining the consent of landowners and carrying out Social Economic Assessment (SIA) for acquiring land under certain categories.

The Right to Fair Compensation, Rehabilitation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Bill, 2015, was passed after nine amendments brought by the government.

The bill will now be taken up by the Rajya Sabha where the Narendra Modi government is in a minority.

The Congress, the Samajwadi Party and the Left walked out before the voting took place. The Biju Janata Dal, which withdrew amendments moved by it, also staged a walk-out.