RLD to launch awareness march against ordinance on land acquisition

BAGHPAT: Rashtriya Lok Dal ( RLD) will launch a public awareness march in Uttar Pradesh against the "anti-farmers" ordinance brought in by the BJP-led Central government to make changes in Land Acquisition Act.

"A Jan Jagran Yatra (public awareness march) will be taken out against the ordinance in Uttar Pradesh and it will be led by senior leader Jayant Chaudhary," RLD chief Ajit Singh, who attended a wedding in Badaut area, told reporters last night.

The date and route of the march will be decided soon, Singh said, adding that the ordinance is aimed at "grabbing" the land of farmers.

Alleging that farmers were facing hardships due to the wrong policies of the central and state governments, Singh listed out various anti-cultivators moves that he claimed have added to their problems.

He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was ignoring farmers' issues and busy touring the world.

Asked whether his party would contest 2017 UP Assembly elections in coalition with BSP, the RLD chief evaded a direct reply, saying "this is the time to save farmers".