NDA ally PMK opposes land bill; to protest on March 3

CHENNAI: Yet another BJP ally PMK today came out against the controversial land acquisition bill, dubbing it as one that 'strangulates' farmers and announced to hold a protest over the issue on March 3.

Criticising the BJP-led government for removing provisions, including farmers' consent and launching social impact study from the previous version by the UPA government, the party said it amounted to 'snatching away' the rights of farmers.

"In short, the government can just snatch away the land from farmers and hand them over to large private corporates. The farmers cannot even oppose this," PMK founder S Ramadoss said in a statement here.

PMK is the latest BJP ally to come out against the land acquisition bill. Shiv Sena, LJP and Akali Dal have already expressed their reservations.

Ramadoss said lakhs of acres of land already acquired for Special Economic Zones (SEZ) had remained unused.

"The bill strangulates the farmers and deprives them of their livelihood. PMK strongly condemns it," he said.

Describing as "very dangerous" the amended law, which the NDA government brought by an ordinance and has now introduced a bill in the Lok Sabha to seek Parliamentary approval, he said PMK will stage state-wide protests on March 3 and he would also participate in it.

"As far as PMK is concerned, it strongly opposes forceful acquisition of land from farmers," he said, recalling the party's standing in forefront in similar issues in Tamil Nadu, including during the expansion of the airport here.

He said the governments had implemented the 1884 Land Act with amendments and though the UPA's Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Resettlement and Rehabilitation Act 2013 was "fairly satisfactory," he had sought more favourable provisions.