Reject Land Acquisition Amendment: CPI To Prez.

The CPI Telangana Council urged that President Pranab Mukherjee return the Telangana Land Acquisition Amendment Bill for reconsideration.

The CPI State Secretary addressed a letter to the President stating that the Land Acquisition and Rehabilitation Act was passed by Parliament in 2013 in favor of farmers but the present BJP-led government at the Centre tried to amend it but failed due to lack of majority in Rajya Sabha. On the direction of the Union Government, some States are bringing amendments to it, which is unfair, he wrote.

The Telangana government put the above Act in the back-burner and acquired thousands of acres of land through the GO 123 through pressure tactics and even threatening the farmers, it claimed.

"The Hyderabad High Court declared that Land acquisition through GO 123 was invalid and directed them to acquire lands through the Central Act. The GO 124, an amendment to GO 123, was also struck down by the High court as it did not offer fair rehabilitation to agriculture labourers and other poor people who would be affected by the proposed land acquisition."

"The TRS government took advantage of section 107 and amended the Central Act, which did not give better relief but allows the District Collectors to acquire land and in an emergency section can also acquire land without going into necessary formalities, stripping the farmers of their rights," it said.

Chada Venkat Reddy also wrote that the rights of the farmers shouldn't be compromised for acquiring lands for irrigation projects, Industries and other necessities of the public. Both ought to be taken care at an equal footing, he demanded. The State government brought the amendment in a hurry, which went against the interests of the peasants, he added.

He urged the President not to accept the amended Telangana Bill and instead send it back for reconsideration. He said that the CPI was confident that the President would consider their request in the interest of the farmers and the rest of the nation.