The National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM), which is behind several agitations across India against the controversial land acquisition ordinance, has said there cannot be any compromise on the demand for repealing it. Pointing to media reports that the NDA government is “rethinking” on the ordinance ahead of the budget session starting Monday, the NAPM has said, “There is no question of any compromise. The ordinance takes away safeguards to farmers and project affected families by removing the key provisions of consent and social impact assessment”.
“The government is engaging in false propaganda that the new ordinance is beneficial to farmers and is necessary for the creation of the rural infrastructure like drinking water, electricity, roads and houses for the poor. The evidence suggests otherwise. It promulgated to provide boost to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Make in India campaign and remove supposedly billions of dollars investment stuck due to land related problems.”, the NAPM said.
Pointing out that the Land Acquisition Act, 2013 Act was a result of the “consensus developed over a period of nearly 30 years”, the NAPM wondered what was “the urgency to bring in an ordinance without consulting anyone.” It added, “Land Ordinance will seriously impact the food security of the country, since it will allow acquisition of the multi-crop land at a fast pace.”
The NAPM insisted, “The land ordinance is not about welfare of farmers but about serving corporate interests.” In fact, since it came to power, “the NDA government has only been launching schemes for the corporates and private businesses but nothing of significance for farm sector and farmers”, it added.
Calling for complete repeal of the ordinance, the NAPM said, “The agitation of the farmers’ organizations, people's movements, trade unions and others on February 24 will be held unless and until the land ordinance is repealed completely. About 5,000-strong foot march of the Ekta Parishad will converge at Jantar Mantar and will be joined by Anna Hazare and others.”
Apart from NAPM, those who will participate in the rally include All Indian Union of Forest Working People (AIUFWP), Akhil Bhartiya Kisan Sabha, Narmada Bachao Andolan, Yuva Kranti, Campaign for Survival and Dignity, Chhattisgarh Bachao Andolan, Jan Pahal, Kisan Sagharsh Samiti, Jan Sangharsh Samnvay Samiti, Delhi Solidarity Group, Ghar Bachao Ghar Banao Andolan, National Fishworker’s Forum, Rashtriya Mazdoor Kisan Sangathan and others.
Simultaneous protests and demonstrations have also been planned at Patna, Lucknow and Ludhiana.
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