AIADMK targeted by DMK, DMDK for its support to Land Bill

DMK and NDA ally DMDK today targetted AIADMK for supporting the land 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.
Karunanidhi alleged that AIADMK's "sudden support" to it had an "ulterior motive" and announced a demonstration on March 20 across Tamil Nadu against the bill.
"The AIADMK which initially opposed the Land (Amendment) Bill vigorously (however) voted with the government due to some reason and ulterior motive," he said in a statement.
Criticising BJP as "adamantine" for passing the bill in Lok Sabha, Karunanidhi alleged that it took away the rights of farmers and helped big corporates.

Reiterating that the party was opposed to the bill right from the start when an ordinance was promulgated, he said a protest would be held across the state on March 20.
"To condemn the Centre for passing the Bill in Lok Sabha and for trying to get it adopted in Rajya Sabha despite opposition from a majority of people, DMK will stage protests in front of all Collectorates," he said.

DMDK, which is the main opposition party in the Tamil Nadu assembly and has uneasy ties with the BJP, hit out at AIADMK for what it called "somersault".
"Why did AIADMK do a somersault and support the Bill in Lok Sabha after opposing it right from UPA to NDA regimes?" Vijayakanth asked.

"Tamil Nadu government (led by AIADMK) which has been vehemently opposing the Land Bill since UPA through NDA regime has now suddenly supported it and it has led to a thousand questions among the people," he said.
AIADMK's move has led to apprehension on the fate of many other projects put on hold by the state government, including the GAIL pipeline and Methane extraction projects, he claimed.
While the 310 km GAIL pipeline plan is aimed at taking gas from Kochi through Tamil Nadu to the grid is in court, the Methane extraction plan has been put on hold by the state. Both proposals have been opposed by farmers, the state and opposition parties.

Referring to these, the DMDK chief sought to know if AIADMK would shift its stance suddenly on these issues also.
He charged AIADMK chief Jayalalithaa with having "unstable policies" and sought to know if support to bill was to wriggle out of "political problems".
Vijayakanth urged her to "take decisions keeping in mind the welfare of the people." It would have been good if the bill had a clause mandating farmers' concurrence for land acquisition, he said.