BJP claiming ‘fake credit’ for raising land acquisition compensation for farmers; law made by UPA govt, says Congress

The Congress on Thursday (April 23, 2026) alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Madhya Pradesh was claiming “fake credit” for doubling the land acquisition compensation for farmers in rural areas, as the provision had been made by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s UPA government at the centre under the land acquisition law in 2013. 

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On Wednesday, the Madhya Pradesh Cabinet approved an increase in the multiplication factor applicable to land acquisition in rural areas from 1.0 to 2.0. to provide farmers with compensation up to four times the market price, instead of the existing double price, with Chief Minister Mohan Yadav terming the move a “major decision in the interest of farmers”.

Congress general secretary (communications) Jairam Ramesh, however, accused the BJP government was late by a decade in implementing the provision and was claiming credit for it. 

“After a decade-long wait, the Madhya Pradesh Government has decided to implement fourfold compensation for farmers in accordance with the land acquisition law enacted by the UPA government under Dr. Manmohan Singh’s leadership, in response to the farmers’ strong demands. However, the State’s BJP government, instead of apologizing for this delay in the manner of its own leaders, is trying to smother the farmers under its favours and take false credit,” Mr. Ramesh said in an X post. 

“The truth is that the September 2013 law by the UPA government already included a provision for fourfold compensation for rural landowners. For 10 years, they kept a 1.0 multiplier and are now implementing the same law while claiming the credit,” the former union minister wrote. 

The provision had been made under the first schedule of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (RFCTLARR) Act, 2013, asking States to notify the same.  

Addressing a press conference following the Cabinet decision, Mr. Yadav had said that the move will be immediately implemented through an amendment into the Madhya Pradesh Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Rules, 2015 formed under the 2013 Act. 

“Today, in the cabinet meeting, a major decision was taken in the interest of farmer brothers as part of the ‘Agriculture Year 2026’. Now, for the acquisition of agricultural land in rural areas, food providers will be given compensation four times the market rate. Previously, it was two times,” he had said.

The decision is expected to expedite several infrastructural works, including road, railway and dam projects, pending in the State. The move also holds significance for two multi-State river-linking projects that Madhya Pradesh is part of, as the the Ken-Betwa link project in the Bundelkhand region has been facing protests from local farmers and tribal communities.