Opposition pounces on Mayawati’s land bill

Coming down heavily on the Mayawati government for making ‘anti-farmers’ amendment to the Land Acquisition Act, opposition parties have urged governor BL Joshi not to give his assent to the bill.

The BJP and SP have announced that they would take their agitation to the streets if the bill is not withdrawn.  Sources in the Raj Bhavan, meanwhile, aid the governor himself is not too inclined to sign the bill.

The BSP government virtually bulldozed the Bill through the assembly on the last day of the monsoon session amidst much din and disorder.

According to the amendment bill, farmers whose land is acquired for public purpose by the government, would have no right to reclaim the land even if it is not utilised for the said purpose for an indefinite period.

The Congress, the BJP and the SP have accused Mayawati of playing into the hands of private builders and developers at the cost of farmers’ welfare. “Mayawati is working like an agent of big corporate houses,” leader of the Opposition in the assembly and SP general secretary Shivpal Singh Yadav said.