By Mumtaz Alam, IndiaTomorrow.net,
New Delhi, 01 March 2015: The new Land Acquisition Bill, introduced in the form of ordinance by the BJP government in December last year, seems to have put farm on fire in the country, pushing thousands of farmers from across the country to the national capital last week to press the government to withdraw the bill.
Many of them had gathered at Jantar Mantar near Parliament House here under the banner of social activist Anna Hazare and many others were brought by the Congress. Many were angry at the new law and expressed apprehension the government wanted to acquire their land for corporate projects.
“If we don’t have land then how will we produce grains? How will we feed our children? Modi ji had said his government would implement Swaminathan report on farmers. Where is the report now?” asked Master Ramveer Singh, a farmer. But he also criticized Congress for taking the issue now.
“Where was the Congress for the last 67 years over land acquisition? When the government has planned to destroy farmland and agriculture labourers we along with Anna Hazare have come out on the street to protect ourselves,” said Singh.
“If farm land is gone then will cows, buffaloes and calves. Only if they are safe our country will be safe,” said another farmer.
One farmer sounded very angry at the bill and the BJP government not fulfilling the promises.
“Modi had made false promises. He had promised to bring back black money but hasn’t yet. Instead, the government is looting farmers. It is usurping farmers’ land. We have come here to protest against the new law and to protect our rights,” said he.
Chaudhary Murari Lal, also a farmer said farmers should always remain owner of their land. “Farmer is and should be owner of his land. In Modi’s regime, farmers have sold rice to pay interest. The Land Acquisition Bill should be clean and in favour of farmers. Farmers should be owner of his land.”
However, Gopal Singh, another farmer, said farm land can be given only for people’s interests like hospital and roads, but not for hotels and business corridors.
“If through the Land Acquisition Bill, they want to acquire some land for public interest like road, hospital or rail tracks we can give it. But if they want to sell our land for industrialisation or to erect five star hotels and business corridors we will not accept it. They will have to change the law. We will oppose it to the last,” said Singh.
Following the massive protests in last one week, the BJP government has indicated flexibility to amend the law.
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