DMK leader M. Karunanidhi on Monday described as “farcical” former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa’s statement that the AIADMK had succeeded in extracting a promise from the Centre that land would not be acquired for private educational institutions and hospitals.
“Have lands even been acquired for private educational institutions and hospitals? When such a practice never existed, the claim of the former Chief Minister was nothing but farcical,” he said in a statement.
As regards Ms. Jayalalithaa’s argument that farmers would not be affected as lands were not acquired for private companies, Mr Karunanidhi wondered whether she was hinting that there would be no industrial complex in Tamil Nadu in future. “Did the AIADMK government not acquire 200 acres for the Udangudi power project,” he asked.
Mr. Karunanidhi said there was no truth in Ms Jayalalithaa’s argument that the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (Amendment) would not encroach upon the rights of States.
