Anna begins protest against Land Ordinance, mocks promise of 'achhe din'

Veteran social activist Anna Hazare, who began his protest at the Jantar Mantar here today against the amendments in the Land Acquisition, criticized the ruling BJP at the Centre over its promise of 'achhe din' during the Lok Sabha polls last year.

Hazare said there is a need to create awareness as very few farmers are aware of the bill.

"You (BJP) promised 'achhe din' before the elections, so we voted for you," he said.

Hazare said the Land Ordinance is undemocratic.

"The government's Land Bill is anti-farmer. To cater to the industrialists, how can you betray the farmers?" he said while speaking at the protest venue here.

Hazare said this is a mass movement for the farmers.

"This is land grab by the government. This is what the Britishers used to do. The change in the land law is injustice by the government," said Hazare.

"The common man is the master and government has to serve us. What is the need to bring in ordinance when the Act was passed in 2013?" he asked.

Earlier on Sunday, Hazare had called for the Land Ordinance Bill to be taken back and said that the government should instead look out for ways to improve the condition of the farmers.

A group of farmers, who began marching from Haryana's Palwal on Friday, will join Hazare at the venue tomorrow to demand withdrawal of amendments to the Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013.

Hazare had earlier lashed out at the BJP-led government for removing provisions which provided taking the farmers' consent before acquiring their land.