Land Bill: INLD threatens statewide stir

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 26

Urging the BJP-led NDA government to withdraw the amendments to the Land Acquisition Bill, the Indian National Lok Dal today threatened to launch a statewide protest followed by a demonstration in New Delhi.

Addressing a press conference here today, state INLD president Ashok Arora termed the amendments as “anti-farmer and anti-poor” and sought implementation of the 2013 Act, deliberated by all political parties and various social organisations.

“That Act was passed after taking everybody on board and giving weightage to all concerns. These amendments are only aimed at benefiting the very people who helped the BJP come to power,” Arora said.

Stating that the INLD would launch district-level agitations after a meeting of the party executive committee, Arora said this would culminate in a protest at Delhi during the ongoing parliamentary session. “Also, we will urge the Haryana government to pass a unanimous resolution against the amendments in the forthcoming budget session of the Assembly since Haryana farmers will be hit the most,” he added.

Arora said land alone could not attract industry which came either because of availability of raw material or market. “Industry will come wherever it gets greater concessions. We believe that no land should be acquired unless it is for a railway line, powerhouse, school or the like,” Arora said.

Flaying the BJP for letting down the farming community, Arora said the saffron party had gone back on the implementation of the Swaminathan Commission recommendations, had failed to provide urea when it was needed the most and even said that the government could give the minimum support price only for 12 crops.

Arora said their party would support all political outfits taking up the farmers’ cause.

State will follow Centre’s decision: Dhankar

Jhajjar: Haryana Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Om Prakash Dhankar (in pic) said the state government would go ahead with Parliament’s decision on land acquisition. He was interacting with mediapersons after listening to public grievances at the PWD rest house here on Wednesday. He said the Centre had prepared a balanced land acquisition ordinance which would ensure justice to the farmers.

‘Opposition misleading people’

The opposition parties are misleading the farmers on certain provisions of the land acquisition ordinance with an intention to gain political mileage. There is nothing adverse for the farmers in it. This ordinance will accelerate the pace of development. — Om Prakash Dhankar, Agriculture and Rural Development Minister

We will urge the state government to pass a unanimous resolution against the amendments in the forthcoming budget session of the Assembly since Haryana farmers will be hit the most.

Ashok Arora, INLD president (in Pic)