Left to stage protest against Land Bill on May 14

VIJAYAWADA: The Communist Party of India (CPI) General Secretary S Sudhakar Reddy today said the left parties will stage a nation-wide protest against the Land Acquisition Bill on May 14.

The left parties are not against industrialisation but (are against) the methods through, which the Central government is promoting it, Reddy told reporters here, adding, the left parties will hold protest across the country on May 14.

He said the government should make use of barren lands and land under government's possession to allocate it for industries instead of forcefully relinquishing fertile land of farmers.

"The NDA government has failed to solve public issues and particularly of farmers. It has failed to maintain minimum support price for crops and their policies are no different from the previous UPA regime," he said.

He charged the BJP leaders in Parliament for not allowing the opposition to function and for suppressing their voice.

On Trinamool Congress's (TMC) landslide victory in the Kolkata Municipal Corporation, Reddy alleged the Mamta Banerjee-led party indulged in "mass rigging" and violence to win votes.

"I feel it was not an election under a democratic system. TMC has been indulging in violence to cover up its losing popularity. Hence, it indulged in rigging to win this election," he said.

Reddy said the strength of the left is intact and they are gearing up for the next assembly elections in West Bengal next year, which has been their home-turf for over three decades.