Uttar Pradesh Assembly passed the UP Revenue Code (Amendment) Bill 2016 replacing an ordinance that will allow Dalits to sell their land to non-Dalits in the state. The opposition BSP and BJP protested the bill and BJP staged walk out from the house. The ordinance to amend the pre-British era revenue law was replaced by UP Revenue Code (Amendment) Bill, 2016 which was presented by Revenue Minister Shivpal Singh Yadav in the house Friday. The Bill allows Dalits to sell their land to non-Dalits even if they are left with less than 3.5-acres of land.
The BSP termed the Bill as anti-Dalit while BJP staged a walkout opposing the bill. Radha Mohan Das Agarwal of BJP said that land mafia would buy their land at throwaway prices with this amendment and suggested setting up of independent revenue courts. Rejecting his contention and demand, Revenue Minister Shivpal Singh Yadav said the amendments in the code were in the interest of Dalits and common people. Shivpal Yadav said that it would help Dalits get best deal and right price of their land.