CPI (M) State secretary G. Ramakrishnan on Tuesday accused the AIADMK of changing its stand on the Land Acquisition Bill by supporting the latest amendments introduced by the BJP government in Parliament.
Talking to reporters, Mr. Ramakrishnan said former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa joined hands with the Left parties in 2013 in opposing the Bill introduced by the Congress-led UPA government. “She, however, changed her party's stand after Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley met her at her Poes Garden residence. The AIADMK has supported the Bill in return for something,” he said. When it had been clearly proved that Special Economic Zones created by acquiring thousands of acres of lands were a failure, the proposed Act would severely affect agriculture and farmers and others depending on the primary sector of the country.
“As part of the nation-wide movement against the Bill, the CPI(M) would organise demonstrations in Coimbatore, Salem, Madurai and Tirunelveli on March 23,” he said.
Expressing concern over 100 murders in 10 months in Tirunelveli and Tuticorin districts, Mr Ramakrishnan said caste pride and aggression were behind at least 25 cases. “Caste outfits incite students and youth on communal lines. The government, instead of viewing these as individual murders, must treat them as an expression of casteist tendencies,’’ he said.
Neo-liberal policies Mr. Ramakrishnan said both the DMK and the AIADMK followed the neo-liberal economic policies of the Congress and BJP governments at the Centre and it was reflected in the budgets of the State government. “We hope the State government will present a budget taking into consideration the interests of the medium and small traders and farmers and unorganised workers, the victims of the neo-liberal economic policies of the Centre. It should also give priority to education and health,’’ he said.
The CPI(M) leader also took exception to Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremeshinge's assertion that his country's Navy would shoot at Tamil Nadu fishermen if they strayed into Sri Lanka's waters.
