Pics: Meryick D'Silva

Daijiworld Media Network- Mangaluru(JS)

Mangaluru, Feb 13: Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha organised a protest rally from Jyothi circle to DC office here in Mangaluru on February 13.

Ravikiran Poonacha, District working president, Karnataka Raitha Sangha said "In the past 25 years we have not seen a stable government since now Modi government came to power with full majority, Farmers of the nations were expecting good days. On March 18 National Raitha Sangha has planned a national protest in Janthar Manthar in New Delhi. There is no clear mandate for the amount of land to be acquired for industries. MCF has locked down completely but if they sell the land which is obtained by government it would cost corers of rupees. This is a easy way to make money. They don't say they are stealing but in the name of development they are doing this. 70% of GDP of the nation comes from agriculture. Now this Modi government has reamended the 2013 bill and they have given this to the president through ordinance. Government was giving subsidy on fertilizers to the industries for 10 lac ton but these industries buy only 2 ton rest shared by them. When we requested the last UPA government, they took necessary steps to transfer the amount directly to farmers account but now Modi government has stopped this subsidy. 5 people from the central government are set to axe farmers of the nation. They are honorable Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Sadananda Gowda, Radha Mohan, Ananth Kumar and Arun Jaitley. During the time of crisis, full economy was under hit. Only agricultural sector helped the GDP of nation. Modi government has given the ordinance to president without discussing it in the Lok sabha. We request president not to approve the ordinance. President has already rejected the ordinance and we thank him for that."

Sanni D'souza, veteran leader of Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha said "According to 2013 bill, if a land is acquired by any private company then they have to take the consent of 80% of land owners. If the land acquired is for PPP then 70% land owners consent is required. Another important point was that in special cases, committee will be formed and after effect of industries will be studied and report will be taken. There were many good points in the the 2013 report but all those points are removed by the Modi governments new bill. There was another clause if the acquired land is not used in 5 years for the proposed project then it will be returned to the land owners but that clause is also removed. What was the need of passing the bill through ordinance? Why don't they discuss in parliament. According to this new bill, government need not take permission for acquisition of land for Niddodi thermal project. In Delhi election, people have given their decision if you don't do people oriented work then as you say Congress Muktha Bharath, it would turn into Modi and Amith Sha Muktha BJP. If you check the history of anti farmers governments, none of them have survived in this nation. In Gujarat through industrialisation act they have acquired thousands of acres of land, now they are set to acquire land for Delhito Mumbai corridor for which 9.5 lac acre land will be acquired highest ever. This the main reason they want to pass this bill through ordinance."

They protested by burning the effigy and then submitted the memorandum to the Deputy commissioner.

Rupesh Rai, convenor, Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha, Manjunath Rai, District treasurer, Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha, Ashok Kumar Rai, District general secretary, Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha and others were present in the protest.