AAP protests, demands withdrawal of Land Acquisition ordinance

A day after calling for a nationwide opposition over changes in Land Acquisition Act, Aam Aadmi Party today organised protests across the country and demanded immediate withdrawal of the ordinance issued by the Centre in this regard.
District units of the party across the country joined hands to register a strong united voice against the NDA government's move to dilute the 2013 law on land acquisition.
Party members also met District Magistrates/Collectors and submitted a memorandum addressed to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanding withdrawal of the anti-farmer ordinance, the party said in a statement.
The party had begun its opposition in Delhi on Sunday with a public meeting, addressed by its chief Arvind Kejriwal, at Chattarpur and threatened a nation-wide protest.

Kejriwal later tweeted a poster, "Delhi farmers angry over BJP's land acquisition bill."
The ordinance allows land to be taken away from farmers and adivasis without any process of obtaining consent or even an assessment of its social impact on numerous projects, the party statement said.

It alleged that the central government is acting with the only intent to "favour" a select few corporate and business houses.
"Finance Minister Arun Jaitley addressed live on media stating that the higher compensation to farmers after the changes in Land Acquisition Act will continue and the interest of farmers have been taken care of.

"However it is important to highlight here that State Government of Haryana headed by BJP has illegally changed the Multiplication Factor for Rural Areas from 2 to 1 on December 4, 2014, thereby ensuring that the farmers of rural areas get a minimum of 50 per cent less compensation," the statement pointed out.