AIADMK pats Modi regime, defends support for Land Bill

Stoutly defending its vote in support of the land bill in Lok Sabha and rubbishing DMK's accusations, AIADMK chief Jayalalithaa today said it did so for public good as the amendments were brought by the Modi regime to give states their rights and make both Centre and states partners in the nation's growth.
"I feel that the amendments to Land Bill have been brought about by the Modi-led government on the basis of giving state governments their rights and to make both Centre and states' partners in the nation's growth," she was quoted as saying in a statement here.
Rubbishing Karunanidhi's charge of having an "ulterior motive" in supporting the bill, she said her party supported it as it was for public good and benefit of Tamil Nadu.

"Karunanidhi has deliberately faulted AIADMK and has attempted to unnecessarily blame my party," she said and referred to a DMK piloted 1999 State Act on land acquisition for industries.
"It is comical that Karunanidhi is talking on this issue whose regime brought a legislation enabling land acquisition for industries. He does not have any locus standi to comment on the issue," she said.
The amendment proposed by her party objecting to exemptions to private educational institutions and hospitals was accepted by the government and after that the party voted in the Bill's favour, she noted.
Referring to features of the Amendment Bill like incorporation of Schedule III-A and vesting the power to provide exemptions for five types of projects like infrastructure projects with the concerned government, she said the bill conferred more rights on states and did not dilute the principal 2013 Land Acquisition Act.

DMK and NDA ally DMDK had targetted AIADMK for supporting the bill in the Lok Sabha with Karunanidhi saying his party would stage protests against it and Vijayakanth-led party questioning the "somersault" of Tamil Nadu's ruling party.