The Congress will intensify its agitation against the move to amend the Land Acquisition Act of 2013 and the Ordinance being brought by the Bharatiya Janata Party-led NDA Government. The first phase of the agitation in Uttar Pradesh will be held on May 12 when copies of the Land Acquisition Ordinance would be burnt by the Congress workers.
This was decided at a meeting of the State executive of the Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee in Gandhi Bhawan Sabhagar here on Thursday. The meeting of the district and city unit chiefs of the Congress was held along with that of the working committee. The meeting presided over by the UPCC president Nirmal Khatri was attended the Congress General Secretary in charge of U.P., Madhusudan Mistry and senior party leaders. The strategy of the proposed stir against the amendments in the Land Acquisition Law was finalized at the meeting.
Addressing the gathering of party leaders, the U.P. Congress president said from May 7 to 10 meetings will be held at the block headquarters in the State to finalise the strategy for the Statewide agitation on May 12.
Mr. Khatri said at least one office-bearer of the Pradesh Congress Committee will be present in the block level meetings to oversee the developments.
With the focus clearly on wooing the farmers, the recent loss to crops and the reported suicide by distressed farmers following unseasonal rains and hailstorm in Uttar Pradesh also figures in the Congress’ plan of action in the State. But the opposition against the amendments in the Land Acquisition Act , which was enacted by the UPA Government in 2013 formed the focus of the Congress strategy.
In his address, the AICC in charge of U.P. slammed the Narendra Modi Government on the move to amend the Land Acquisition Law. Mr. Mistry accused the Central Government of working as a agent of the capitalists and added that it wanted to hand over the farmers’ land to them. Referring to his home State of Gujarat, Mr. Mistry said land was given to industrialists and capitalist by the BJP Government at throw away prices.
Mr. Mistry said the Congress would oppose the anti-people’s policies of the BJP Government at the Centre.
