A parliamentary committee meeting reviewing land acquisition laws was cut short after BJP MPs walked out in protest of activist Medha Patkar's invitation to testify. The Standing Committee on Rural Development and Panchayati Raj was scheduled to hear from various stakeholders regarding the implementation and effectiveness of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013.

The controversy arose when BJP members discovered that Medha Patkar, along with actor-activist Prakash Raj, were invited to appear before the committee. BJP MPs strongly objected, claiming that inviting individuals known for criticizing the government was politically motivated and inappropriate.

According to sources, BJP MPs described Patkar, who led the Narmada Bachao Andolan, as "anti-national and anti-development". One MP questioned whether the committee would also invite the Prime Minister of Pakistan. Opposition MPs defended the decision to hear from Patkar, stating that it is standard practice to hear from civil society members and stakeholders.

As the meeting began, BJP MPs protested against Patkar's presence. Former Union Minister and BJP MP Parshottam Rupala led the walkout, arguing that Patkar has consistently opposed national development initiatives, particularly those crucial to Gujarat's water resources. Rupala stated that Patkar has no moral standing to speak on such matters and that if she had her way, half of Gujarat would be affected by drought. Other BJP MPs, including Dr. Sanjay Jaiswal, Raju Bista, and Jugal Kishore, supported Rupala's stance and demanded transparency in the witness list.

With the BJP MPs leaving the meeting, a lack of quorum resulted in its adjournment. Committee Chairman Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka, a Congress MP, stated that all rules were followed in convening the meeting and that the list of witnesses was circulated to all members. Ulaka defended the decision to invite civil society members and other stakeholders to provide their views on the land acquisition law. He also mentioned that the Speaker's office had approved the invitation of 11 activists, including Patkar and Prakash Raj.

Patkar expressed her surprise at the incident, noting that she had appeared before parliamentary committees in the past without experiencing similar objections. She emphasized the importance of discussing the land acquisition law.