Bizodisha Bureau, New Delhi, April 30, 2015 :

Odisha chief minister and Biju Janata Dal president, Naveen Patnaik seems to have developed the habit of springing surprises as and when required.

In yet another move, his party has on Thursday finally declared to oppose the amended Land Acquisition Bill saying that its main demand for making land losers shareholders in the projects has not been met by the Narendra Modi led union government. The party also demanded the GST issue to be referred to the standing committee.

The regional party from Odisha on March 3 had moved some amendments to LAB out of which four proposals were accepted by the Centre but the main demand was not accepted. BJD members staged a walkout before the bill was put to vote. Now the party has decided to oppose it.

“The government had accepted four of our amendments, but it had not accepted our main amendment. In protest, we had staged a walkout. Keeping in line the principles of Biju Janata Dal and our party’s manifesto, we will continue to oppose it,” BJD Parliamentary Party leader in the Lok Sabha Bhatruhari Mahatab, said.

“We have a major proposal: if the land which is being acquired is for some economic or commercial purpose, then the land loser should be made a shareholder in that project,” he added.

On the GST Bill, the party’s spokesperson in the Lok Sabha Kalikesh Narayan Singhdeo has demanded sending the Bill to the standing committee.

“The Odisha government has some apprehensions on the Bill. Therefore, our party wants it to be sent to the standing committee. It should be thoroughly examined by the standing committee and placed again,” Singhdeo clarified.