Bengaluru, Apr 26 (DHNS): Former union minister Jairam Ramesh said on Saturday that the Congress, including the party’s government in the State, would continue to oppose the new Land Acquisition ordinance issued by the NDA government at the Centre.
Addressing a press conference here, Ramesh said that the Congress government in Karnataka would continue with the State’s land acquisition law, which is in tune with the Land Acquisition Act, 2013.
“Any state is free to improve upon the Centre’s land acquisition law,” he said.
Speaking about the all India protests against the land acquisition ordinance, Ramesh said that it will be the “Sanjeevini” for the revival of the Congress party.
“Like Chikkamagaluru was the Sanjeevini for the party in 1978 (Indira Gandhi won the by-elections after the end of Emergency), the political agitations will be the Sanjeevini of 2015 for the party,” said the AICC member.
Ramesh said that the Congress had already planned padayatras in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, with similar agitations elsewhere in the country. He said the party vice-president Rahul Gandhi would be at the forefront of the agitation.
Ramesh said that after the agitation against the land acquisition ordinance, the next frontier of political battle was against the relaxation of the environment and tribal laws in the country.
On the dilution of the Kasturirangan report on the Western Ghats by the State, Ramesh did not give a firm response.
Modi betrayed AP by denying Special Category Status: Jairam Ramesh
From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Apr 26: Senior Congress leader and former Union Minister of Rural Development Jairam Ramesh has accused the Narendra Modi Government of betraying the people of Andhra Pradesh by denying special category status to the State.
Ramesh, the Rajya Sabha MP, said the previous Congress-led UPA government had promised to grant the special category status to AP in February 2014.
However, the Andhra Pradesh has not received the promised special status till today, Ramesh said addressing a news conference in Bengaluru on Saturday.
The Congress will continue to fight till the Centre granted the special status to Andhra Prades, he said.
As many as 11 states have been given special status so far.
Jairam Ramesh said the Narendra Modi Government has proposed amendments to the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, to favour a few chosen capitalists and builders in the country.
"The sole purpose of amendments to the 2013 Act is to benefit and favour a few chosen capitalists and builders,’’ he said.
The Congress has launched a nation-wide agitation against the ``KisanVirodhi Narendra Modi government to inform the farmers about the proposed anti-farmer amendments,’’ he said declaring that the party will continue its fight to protect the interests of farmers.
"Amendments to the 2013 Act are non-negotiable and no-compromise," said Ramesh, under whose tenure as Minister, the Law was passed.
All political parties, including the BJP, supported the 2013 Act, he said wondering why the BJP has changed its stance after coming to power.
"We see no reason to change the Act now. The law may be changed based on experience after 3-4 years,’’ he said.
The Congress has been opposing five fundamental changes proposed to the Act, he said.
The Modi regime’s ordinance was "deeply disturbing" and the exemptions would lead to forcible land acquisition, and diversion of land acquired, the Congress leader added.