Supported Land Bill for state's interest: Jayalalithaa

Says the amended Bill included state govt's proposals

AIADMK general secretary J Jayalalithaa today said her party supported the Land Acquisition Bill in Parliament as the Centre gave more powers to the state governments, as against the previous form of the bill.

Her statement came after DMK supremo M Karunanidhi accused Jayalalithaa of double standards by opposing the Bill during the Congress regime and supporting it now.

The AIADMK members voted in favour of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Resettlement and Rehabilitation Bill last week, when the central government moved it with some amendments.

Refuting DMK's allegations, she said that the party's proposals - related to the exemptions given to private educational institutions and hospitals - were included in the Bill. 

On the allegation that she supported the Bill at a time when her appeal against the disproportionate asset case in the High Court of Karnataka is coming to an end, Jayalalithaa said that the DMK leader is finding imaginary reasons and trying to connect unrelated things. 

On Friday, answering to similar allegations by the DMK supremo, she also questioned the reason behind DMK opposing the amended bill, when it had supported the Bill presented by the previous government.

Karunanidhi has alleged that the Land Bill in the current form is to support the multi-national companies and is against the interests of the farmers.