Land acquisition ordinance: Anna Hazare launches protest to meet AAP

Kissan Baburao, Anna Hazare, a veteran social activist has launched his protest against the ordinance on Land Acquisition at Jantar Mantar from Monday.

Hazare slammed the Land Acquisition Ordinance by calling it Anti-farmer. When asked if he would let allow AAP leaders share the stage with him, he replied no he would not.

Anna noticed government to look out other ways to improve the condition of the farmers instead of passing the Ordinance Bill.

Read: What is Land Acquisition Law/Act?

Anna’s protest started from Palwal and along with him, a group of farmers also marched. They are all demanding to withdrawal amendments to the Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013.

Anna also lashed out at the Narendra Modi government for not adding provisions in the amendment to take consent from farmers before acquiring their land.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is ready to make changed in Land Acquisition Bill

Anna Hazare to meet Kejriwal over Land ordinance

The social activist, Anna Hazare will meet Delhi Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal in Delhi on Monday in concern of the Land Ordinance Bill. They will meet at the New Maharashtra Sadan in Delhi.

The BJP government in Center is willing to produce a new bill to replace the previous land ordinance amid stiff opposition from the opposition non-NDA parties.

As per the Land Acquisition Act, 2013, land owners of farms have mandatory consent of at least 70 per cent for acquiring land for Public Private Partnership (PPP) projects and 80 per cent for acquiring land for private companies.

But in December 2014, the government made significant changes in the Land Act including removal of consent clause for acquiring land for five areas. These five areas are:

• Industrial corridors
• PPP projects
• Rural infrastructure
• Affordable housing
• Defense.

Kumar Vishwas of APP party to meet Anna Hazare

Though the AAP is still under dilemma whether to join or not the protest, but Kumar Vishwas will be meeting the veteran social Activist on Monday to discuss over the issue of Land Ordinance Bill.

Another leader of Congress Party, Mallikarjun Kharge said that it was really very unfortunate that the BJP government did not consult anybody before issuing the land acquisition ordinance; they are trying to please the corporates only businessmen only.

Kharge told to media “They have already issued the ordinance without consulting anybody and we stand that the earlier action should be implemented. It is unfortunate that the government immediately, after the session is over, they issued the ordinance”

“It means that they are with the corporates. They are with the companies just to please them, to get more investment in the name of this land acquisition act,” he added and said the ordinance is not in the interest of common farmers.

“It is not good what they have issued. So, we are jointly fighting and all others are also agreeing on the same point. So, we will take that issue when it comes up in the Parliament,” he added.

The Congress leader further said that his party would very soon decide on extending support to veteran social activist Anna Hazare, who will sit on a protest at the Jantar Mantar here against the ordinance on Land Acquisition Bill.

“I can say that Anna Hazare is supporting our Act because this Act has enacted earlier and we expressed our reservation for this. Therefore, it is the good thing. Anna Hazare is also taking the same thing,” he added.

On the other hand the Union parliamentary affairs minister, M Venkaiah Naidu said earlier that he has sought the Congress’s full coöperation for smooth functioning of the Parliament ahead of the budget session.

“I apprised Congress president of the need to allow the Parliament to act and sought the cooperation of Congress. The Congress president told me that they are also interested in allowing the Parliament to act but they have some issues they would want to raise,” he said.

Naidu also promised that the government is really willing for any kind of discussion with the opposition before fully implementation of the Bill.