‘KRRS opposes amendment to land acquisition Act’

In opposition to the Union government’s ordinance to amend the land acquisition Act, the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS) has called for a meeting on January 20 to chalk out an action plan to pressure the Centre to withdraw the ordinance.

The farmers’ body said the executive meeting would also discuss the ‘anti-farmer’ polices of the State government.

Addressing presspersons on Friday, KRRS president Kodihalli Chandrashekar said the ordinance to amend the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, would snatch away the right of the farmer over his land. “This is an assault on the farmer’s fundamental right. The government has neither brought it to the public notice nor discussed it in Parliament. Passing the ordinance is just to fulfil the Modi government’s commitment to implement pro-industrialist policies,” he said.

Mr. Chandrashekar accused the Centre of framing polices that aid global investors. “The Bharatiya Janata Party claimed itself as a supporter of ‘Swadeshi’. It is now acting in a contradictory manner. As an Opposition party, it had opposed importing/experimenting genetically-modified seeds, but now it has changed positions,” he charged. Pointing out the State government’s failure to pay compensation to farmers affected by natural calamities, Mr. Chandrashekar said the government had failed to ensure that the sugarcane growers got their dues, and was yet to announce the support price for 2014-15.

The BJP claimed itself as a supporter of ‘Swadeshi’. It is now acting in a contradictory manner