Kejriwal joins Hazare, says won't allow forcible takeover of land

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal Tuesday said his government would put all its might to not allow the central government forcibly take over land as he joined social activist Anna Hazare after almost three years to protest the Centre's land ordinance.

Kejriwal joined Hazare's two-day agitation which began Monday at Delhi's popular protest site Jantar Mantar, where both had parted ways over the former's decision to float a political party in August 2012.

Calling Hazare his "guru" who was like a "father" to him, Kejriwal also invited his mentor to the Delhi Secretariat to inspire officials.

Announcing the Aam Aadmi Party's support to Hazare's nationwide protest against the legislation, Kejriwal said the BJP-led NDA government would work as a "property dealer for big industrialists" if the amendment was through in parliament.

The government Tuesday introduced the land acquisition amendment bill in the Lok Sabha amid uproar by the opposition. Hazare has termed the bill undemocratic.

"Though the issue of land does not come under the purview of the Delhi government, whatever power the Delhi government has, it would ensure land is not taken away forcibly from anyone in Delhi," Kejriwal said to a cheering crowd of several hundreds.

The Delhi Development Authority -- the capital's land owning agency -- reports to the central government.

"The amendment which is being brought to the land acquisition act is against the poor and farmers and we strongly protest this," Kejriwal added.

Kejriwal reminded the Bharatiya Janata Party how it rode to power in the Lok Sabha election in May 2014 and how it was "uprooted" by the people of Delhi because of its faulty policies.

The AAP routed the BJP and the Congress in the Feb 7 Delhi assembly polls, winning 67 of the 70 seats.

He warned the BJP not to bulldoze people, otherwise people would bulldoze them.

AAP leaders like Yogendra Yadav and Somnath Bharti were seen on the stage with Hazare. However, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia was missing.