Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar attacks Centre over Land Bill

Patna: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who is the driving force of Janata Parivar constituent JD(U), on Thursday attacked the BJP-led government at the Centre over the Land Acquisition Bill and demanded its withdrawal at the earliest.

Addressing a function on the birth anniversary of freedom fighter Kuer Singh in Patna, Kumar said an impression has been created in the minds of farmers and common people that the Land Acquisition Bill of the NDA government, which has taken out the consent clause and has no provision of social impact analysis, is against their interest.

"Since a solid negative impression has been created in the minds of farmers against the Land Acquisition Bill, the BJP-led government should not make the legislation a matter of ego, and (must) withdraw it," he said.

"The Prime Minister should not link the Land Acquisition Bill with his prestige. If, respecting sentiments of farmers, he withdraws the Bill, it will not lower, but rather enhance, his prestige," Kumar said.

Kumar has opposed the Bill and even went on a 24-hour fast in Patna on March 14 as part of JD(U)'s state-wide agitation against it.