Postcard movement begins against LA Act 2016

AGITATION: Farmers at Siddipet displaying letters on postcards that they had sent to President Pranab Mukherjee asking him to intervene and ensure implementation of L.A. Act - 2013 in Telangana.

In the second phase of movement against land acquisition, oustees from some villages commenced a postcard movement on Thursday.

“Honourable President, Namaste. Initiate action to acquire land under Land Acquisition Act 2013. Do not give consent to the L.A. Act - 2016 passed by the Telangana Government. Please stop the effort of the Government to create distance between farmers and their lands which is like dividing mother and son. See that the capacity of Mallannasagar Reservoir is reduced from the proposed 50 tmcft. Ensure that L.A. Act - 2013 is implemented in all states which provides justice to the farmers and landless poor,” was the letter written by one Md. Hayatuddin, a resident of Vemulaghat village in Toguta mandal of Siddipet district to President Pranab Mukherjee. About 25 letters were posted by farmers.

“I had sold my land to the Government under G.O. 123. As the High Court has stalled further purchase of land, we are demanding the Government payment of compensation as per L.A. Act 123. I will also write letter to the President demanding implementation of L.A. Act - 2013 and not to give consent to L.A. Act - 2016,” said Venkata Reddy of Allipir, who took part in a seminar.

The district unit of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) held a seminar on ‘Land acquisition - challenges - solutions’ at the Press Club here on Thursday. The programme was presided over by CITU leader Paladugu Bhaskar.

Oustees from Vemulaghat and Lakshmapur under Mallannasagar, Chandrapur under Anantagiri, Tigul and Narsapur under Kondapochamma attended the seminar and explained the pressures and problems being faced by them.

Addressing the gathering, CITU State secretary Paladugu Bhaskar alleged that the Government had purchased lands from farmers under G.O. 123 in the name of development by bringing all types of pressures on them. He said that this was the time everyone in the society came forward and extended support to the farmers. Rythu Sangham district president N. Yadava Reddy, Agriculture Workers Union president Shashidhar and others participated in the programme.