Farmers oppose amended land acquisition Act

Tribune News Service

Rohtak, August 26

The Haryana state committee of the All-India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) has condemned the amendments to the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013.

Inderjit Singh, vice-president, AIKS, said: “Important pro-farmer provisions in the Act were a result of prolonged struggle of farmers. The Modi government had, in 2015, tried to water down the provisions. But it could not succeed due to a joint struggle by farmers and NDA’s lack of majority in Rajya Sabha.”

“The Haryana Assembly has added anti-farmer, anti-people and pro-corporate provisions to the Act. This is a treachery by the BJP-JJP government with farmers. As a result of these amendments, acquisition of land has been made easy as the willingness of minimum 70 per cent of farmers has been removed. Even houses constructed in fields can be demolished with an executive order at the time of land acquisition,” he added.

The AIKS demanded withdrawal of “regressive” amendments, or else farmers would launch an agitation.