DMK stages protest against Land Bill

Leading a protest here against the Land Acquisition Bill, DMK today asked the BJP government at the Centre to ponder over whether it should go ahead ignoring "just arguments" against the legislation.

DMK President M Karunanidhi alleged that archrival AIADMK had supported the Bill in return for a "personal benefit" for its chief Jayalalithaa in the disproportionate assets case.

Insisting that the Bill was "anti-farmer", Karunanidhi said it has been opposed by various parties, including JD(U) leader and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, besides social activist Anna Harare.

"Nitish Kumar has registered his opposition (by going on a fast) and has said he will not implement it in Bihar. BJP government should ponder over whether the Act should be implemented despite all these just arguments," against it, he said.

Taking a dig at AIADMK and its supremo Jayalalithaa, he recalled that the party had opposed the UPA's Land Act in 2013 but had supported the present one from the NDA government.

"Nobody with any common sense can deny that it (AIADMK's support) was in return for (Jayalalithaa's) personal favour," he said, referring to the Rs 66.65 crore assets case.

Karnataka High Court has reserved orders on an appeal by Jayalalithaa against her conviction by a special court in September.

The DMK chief said if people's aspirations were not respected by rulers, they could face downfall in the form of a revolution.