BJP's southern ally PMK hits out at NDA government over land bill

CHENNAI: BJP's southern ally PMK today hit out at the NDA government at the Centre for re-promulgating the land ordinance for the third time, saying it was an "insult" to Parliament and the move amounted to "not respecting" people's sentiments.

Party founder S Ramadoss said the all-round opposition to the BJP's controversial Land Bill was because "land owned by farmers could be acquired without any opposition and handed over to corporates."

"It is condemnable that the government is repeatedly promulgating the ordinance without respecting people's sentiments," he said in a statement here.

Though the government's explanation was that other infrastructure and facilities would grow alongside industries, there would however, be no land to do farming.

The government was coming up with new "sugar-coated explanations" on this bill, but people, especially farmers will not be "fooled", he added.

With the government unable to pass the bill in the Rajya Sabha and subsequently referring it to a Parliamentary committee, re-promulgating the ordinance in the meantime amounted to "insulting" Parliament, he charged.