Stating that the proposed amendments to the Land Acquisition Act will snatch away the rights of farming community, cadre of Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) staged a demonstration near Collectorate on Tuesday.
Led by party president G.K. Mani, the members said that the proposed amendments would benefit only the large private companies, and the farmers would lose their livelihood. The Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 deprived the rights of the farmers, they added.
They condemned the Centre’s move to ‘snatch the land from poor farmers and hand it over to large companies for their welfare’.
“The rights and welfare of the farmers are not taken into account,” they said and demanded that the amendments should be dropped so that agriculture could survive.
Special Correspondent from Erode adds: The PMK party men staged a demonstration assailing the Central Government for its move to amend Land Acquisition Act. Reminding the BJP Government of its poll promise to bring back black money and provide each family with Rs. 15 lakh, the speakers said the Narendra Modi-led Government had proposed the amendments to satisfy major industries. They criticised the Union Finance Minister for claiming that the move would not affect farmers. The earlier law that required consent of 70 per cent land owners for acquisition must be restored to prevent negative socio-economic impact, the protestors emphasised.