Social activist Swami Agnivesh said that the spirited movement launched by farmers against pooling of their fertile lands could become a testing ground for nationwide movement against forceful land acquisition.
Speaking to The Hindu here, he said, “It is a strange coincidence that at a time when a raging public debate is going on over the ordinances passed on the Land Acquisition Act 2013, farmers in river front villages are waging a spirited fight to retain their fertile lands, livelihood and dignity.”
He said that the ordinance brought out by the NDA government already attracted widespread criticism from upper class farmers in north India, who have voted overwhelmingly for Mr Narendra Modi.
“The ordinance is triggering a mass movement similar to resistance seen against the Rowlatt Act during the days of British Raj. Jats in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh are up in arms against the NDA government,’’ Swami Agnivesh said.
Slamming the A.P government for deciding to pool in large tracts of fertile lands for construction of capital, he said farm hands used to intense agricultural activity would be left with no alternative than to take their own lives. “Forceful displacement of labourers may trigger mass suicides,” he warned.
Swami Agnivesh had a piece of advice for Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu too and asked him not to insist on a ‘dream’ capital and instead focus on building an eco-friendly capital.
“Phrases like ‘dream capital,’ may appear to be glamorous but in the end they don’t serve you politically,” he said.
