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The reconvening of the Lok Sabha next week will coincide with a host of protest marches and rallies by different groups on the Land Acquisition Bill.
The government meanwhile has lined up its chief trouble-shooters — Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari, Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu — to counter the protests with the argument that the Bill is for the larger good and development. The critics, however, are far from impressed.
Besides the Congress and AAP, which have announced plans to hold a mega rally and a march on April 19 and April 22 respectively, various people’s movements against land acquisition in different parts of the country are gathering in the Capital on April 24.
Under the banner of the All India Kisan Mazdoor Sabha (AIKMS), leaders from the anti-Posco movement in Jagatsinghpur, Kalinga Nagar, anti-Vedanta movement in Niyamgiri, anti Polavaram movement in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, etc have been invited to participate in the protest.
Addressing the media on behalf of the AIKMS, Dr Ashish Mittal said: “The reasons for enacting this law are clear — the government wants to help the big corporate houses at the cost of the farmers. The reality belies such desperate measures for land acquisition. About 63 per cent of land acquired for SEZs is still lying unused.”
The AIKMS expects about 10,000 farmers, farm labourers and daily-wagers to participate in the protest at Jantar Mantar here on April 24.
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