The Youth Congress workers strongly opposed the BJP-led NDA government bringing an ordinance to “dilute” the Land Acquisition Act enacted by the previous UPA government.
The workers took out a procession and shouted slogans against the union government for “reversing” the farmers’ rights to their land only to favour corporate bodies. It is clear now that the ruling BJP is showing its true colours and taking anti-farmer and anti-people decisions and setting ‘ordinance culture”.
The amended act was a blow to the farmers who were reeling under financial duress due to the losses on account of repeated spells of drought and floods, resulting in suicides. The centre should undo with the amendment in the bet interest of the farmers, the youth congress leaders Channaraj Hattiholi and Vinay Navalgatti said.
Youth Congress in Udupi
Addressing presspersons here on Tuesday, Sunil D. Bangera, Vice President of the Udupi-Chikkamagaluru Committee of Youth Congress, said that the land acquisition ordinance promulgated by the Union Government would hit the farmers and farm workers hard. This was a black legislation. “In fact, it is a black legislation for the farmers,” he said.
While the land acquisition ordinance would provide a lot of money to real estate dealers, it had failed to protect the interests of farm workers and lease holders. “What is the need for the Union government to issue ordinances for all important issues? Why is it hesitating to discuss this issue in the Parliament?” he questioned.
UPA Government had agreed to pass a Land Acquisition legislation, which had provisions to protect the interests of the farmers. But the amendments to the legislation were not just an injustice to the farmers, but a sell-out to the land grabbers.
The UPA Government had increased the MPS for wheat and rice, when it was in power. But the MSP announced for these two items by the NDA Government were too low. Also, the prices of fertilizers had shot up during the NDA rule.
To protest against all these anti-farmer measures of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led NDA Government, the Youth Congress party would submit a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner here on January 21. It would be staging a dharna, in front of the house of the BJP MP on January 28 and 29 and submitting a memorandum to the Tahsildar’s office here on January 22.
