Left terms land ordinance as undemocratic, to agitate

KOLKATA: Terming the Centre's proposed land ordinance as "undemocratic", West Bengal Left Front chairman Biman Bose today said the Left parties would agitate across the state against "anti-farmer" land policy.

"The step by the central government recommending promulgation of an ordinance making changes in the Land Acquisition Act is anti-democratic and anti-farmer," Bose said.

He said that from January five they would hit the streets across the state protesting against the act.

"During the UPA regime when the land amendment bill was brought before the parliamentary standing committee, it was agreed that interests of all those associated with land, apart from land-owners, will also be looked into. But the ordinance proposes to totally omit the clauses," Bose said.

Bose also mocked at Trinamool Congress's protest against the land ordinance, pointing out that it was the TMC regime which had brought in an anti-farmer agricultural marketing act.

"It is really astonishing to see protest against the land ordinance by TMC, which itself passed the anti-farmer agricultural marketing act in an undemocratic way," Bose observed.

The Union government's ordinance seeks to make significant changes in the Land Acquisition Act including removal of consent clause for acquiring land for five areas of industrial corridors, PPP projects, rural infrastructure, affordable housing and defence.