If the state government goes ahead with acquisition of agricultural land, Karnataka may witness a ‘revolution’ like in Egypt to oust Hosni Mubarak, warned former prime minister HD Deve Gowda on Saturday.
If the state government goes ahead with acquisition of agricultural land, Karnataka may witness a ‘revolution’ like in Egypt to oust Hosni Mubarak, warned former prime minister HD Deve Gowda on Saturday.
“The government will not survive if it opposes farmers. Till now, governments that faced opposition from farmers did not stay in power. If the BJP does not drop acquisition of agricultural land, it will face the same fate,” he added.
Participating in a farmers’ protest against Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise (NICE) at Town Hall, he said: “The ruling party should consider the demands of farmers and drop acquisition of agricultural land. Otherwise, it will face serious consequences — such as what Egypt president Hosni Mubarak faced.”
“Before farmers lose their patience, the state government should correct its mistakes and withdraw anti-farmer policies. How can we live without fertile land? In the name of land bank, the government is acquiring acres of land and indulging in real estate business,” he said.
Meanwhile, farmers, who have been on an indefinite fast at Town Hall from Thursday to protest against the Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor (BMIC), withdrew their protest on Saturday. They received a message from the chief minister’s office that a meeting would be held on July 8 to discuss their demands.
Over 100 farmers had been protesting for the past three days.
On Saturday, two farmers fell unconsciousness. The farmers allege that that NICE, which is implementing the BMIC project, has been given 1,330 acres in excess of that required for the project.
The farmers accused Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) of handing over the excess land through an absolute sale deed, instead of dropping the acquisition, thus depriving them of their homes.
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