New Delhi: Terming as "dangerous" changes proposed by the NDA government to the 2013 Land Acquisition Act, CPI-M leader Sitaram Yechury on Monday claimed the Centre's reported plan to hold a joint session to get the amendments cleared is unlikely to materialise in the immediate future.
Yechury, who was elected as General Secretary of the CPI-M on Sunday, said more than anyone else, the government has itself to blame for the Opposition parties coming together to oppose the legislation.
"As long as democracy is concerned, it is about numbers and the government has numbers. But remember, a joint session can be called only when a legislation passed by one House is rejected by the other. And that situation is yet to come about," he said.
"But suppose, if the legislation is not rejected and subjected to parliamentary procedures like establishment of select committee before it is considered, then that will delay joint session and it can't be an immediate solution. So, there will be problem for the government," he said.
According to Yechury, the tendency among Opposition parties coming together to oppose the government's policies will grow in future and a "stronger expression" will be seen during the ongoing session of Parliament.
"If one sees the Opposition parties coming together, then the credit for the same goes to the Modi government. The manner in which they are bringing policies the brazen attack on livelihood of people, the manner in which parliamentary procedures are tweaked, they are being manipulated in order to serve certain purpose are very dangerous trends.
"The tendency of Opposition parties coming together will grow. During this session, you will find stronger expression of the same. It is good for the country," he said.
On asked about objections raised by Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi in Lok Sabha in connection with the amendments to the act, he said these are "valid" ones.
"What Modi government is doing is actually curtailing the minimum protection given under the act by UPA Government. We had moved amendment to give greater protection then (too), but the Congress and BJP (had) defeated us. These changes are extremely dangerous for the livelihood of our rural India and therefore, India as a whole," the Rajya Sabha MP said.
When queried about Gandhi's "Suit Boot Ki Sarkar" remarks, Yechury said it was a "descriptive term", which he added, referred to the divide between two Indias: India and Bharat.
"He is talking about two Indias which I have been talking about in the Parliament. The Suit Boot Ki Sarkar is a symbolic reference to the same," Yechury said.
Meanwhile, Yechury reiterated that reviving of CPI (M), inside and outside the House, will be a tough task for party and in order to address the issue, the outfit has decided to switch to "review mode".
"There is a serious challenge. We have convened a plenum (to discuss problems and find out ways)," Yechury said.
The party's plenum on the organisation will be its first such meeting in 37 years with the last one held in West Bengal's Salkia.
Yechury expressed confidence that the CPI (M) will regain its strength in West Bengal.
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