The Centre’s land ordinance is facing stiff resistance as the Opposition is consolidating its protests with the help of social activists such as Anna Hazare and Medha Patkar. While all non-NDA parties have decided to put up a joint strategy against the proposed amendments to the Bill, Hazare will participate in the farmers’ protests organised by Left parties and National Alliance for People’s Movements here on Tuesday.
Various parties, including the Congress, Trinamool Congress, Samajwadi Party and the JD(U) will also protest in front of Parliament against the law on Tuesday.
According to reports, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal is set t o join Hazare’s protest on Tuesday.
Hazare has been in Delhi from last Friday to participate in protests by various farmers’ groups against the ordinance. On Monday, he urged the Centre to withdraw the ordinance.
“This is land grab. Britishers used to do it. Today’s government is worse than the British regime. Even Britishers did not mete out so much of injustice to farmers,” he said.
The leftist farmers unions said in a letter to MPs that the ordinance will impact food security. “The government claim of bringing 13 Acts under the purview of the Land Acquisition Act would be rendered hollow by the new changes as well as the diluted nature of the provisions.
“It has actually expanded the list of exemptions and also diluted the provision requiring returning of land if unused for five years. There is no guarantee that the land acquired for a project will be the bare minimum required and will open the way for large-scale acquisition at cheap rates to suit the interests of the land mafia including for foreign players,” the letter said.
Receiving endSocial activist Patkar said the BJP is planning to acquire two-third of the farming land for various infrastructural projects in favour of corporate houses. “With this ordinance, such large-scale acquisitions can be done without the approval of farmers. Not just farmers, agriculture workers, small traders and fisher folk will be at the receiving end if it is implemented,” she said.
Meanwhile, there is an apparent rift within the farmers’ organisations, with the leftist trade unions differing from the move to hold discussions with the Centre. “What we need is withdrawal of the ordinance. We do not want any discussions with the government. We will meet the President to urge him that the ordinance should be withdrawn,” said former MP and CPI(M) leader Hannan Mollah.
CPI leader Atul Kumar Anjan, apparently criticising Hazare, said the protests do not need a “father figure”. “We want everyone to come out against this draconian ordinance. There is no leader or father figure for this protest,” he added.
Social activist Sunilam, however, said Hazare’s presence has helped the protests to get massive response from the public.