The Parliamentary Committee on Rural Development and Panchayati Raj convened a meeting to discuss the land acquisition law enacted during the UPA government in 2013. The committee had invited social activist Medha Patkar and actor Prakash Raj to this meeting to gather their opinions.
Medha Patkar: A b uproar was witnessed in the politics of New Delhi on Tuesday during a meeting of the parliamentary committee. When the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Rural Development and Panchayati Raj invited social activist Medha Patkar to deliberate on the land acquisition law implemented during the UPA government in 2013, BJP MPs bly objected. Eleven BJP MPs present at the meeting, including former Union Minister Purushottam Rupala, labeled Medha Patkar as "anti-national" and walked out of the meeting.
Apart from Medha Patkar, actor and social activist Prakash Raj and some other experts were also invited to this committee meeting chaired by Congress MP Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka. But as soon as Medha Patkar's name came up, the BJP MPs started protesting and some even openly called her a "traitor."
Why the controversy?
At the root of the controversy lies Medha Patkar's past image, who has often been the face of major movements and anti-government campaigns. The BJP MPs argued that Medha Patkar had, on several occasions in the past, made statements against national interests and supported anti-national forces. In such a situation, inviting her to the parliamentary committee meeting was completely inappropriate.
Former Union Minister Purushottam Rupala said, "It is unfortunate that a person with anti-national thinking has been invited to the platform of the parliamentary committee. We bly oppose this." With this argument, 11 BJP MPs walked out of the meeting, further heating up the atmosphere.
What did the committee chairman say?
The chairman of the parliamentary committee and Congress MP Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka, calling it a normal part of the parliamentary process, said, "Parliamentary committees take opinions from different people and experts on every subject. Whether they are activists or film artists, knowing their perspective is necessary for the health of democracy."
He said that Medha Patkar's perspective on the land acquisition law is important because she has been active in this field for a long time and it is the committee's responsibility to listen to her opinion. Ulaka also said that parliamentary committees should be allowed to work independently so that better policies can be made in the wider interest.
Why was Medha Patkar invited?
In fact, the parliamentary committee on Rural Development and Panchayati Raj is studying the social impact of the 2013 land acquisition law. In this connection, many people from civil society, experts and stakeholders were called to gather their opinions which could be useful in the review of the law. Medha Patkar was also invited for the same purpose because she had participated in many anti-land acquisition movements, including the Narmada Bachao Andolan.
The parliamentary committee meeting had to be stopped midway after this protest by BJP MPs. Now this controversy may escalate because questions have also started arising about the fairness and independence of parliamentary processes regarding it. The BJP's stance makes it clear that there is b opposition within the party regarding figures like Medha Patkar, while the opposition considers it a part of freedom of expression and the democratic process.
