Repeal Land Acquisition Bill: Kodandaram Protests

Telangana Joint Action Committee (TJAC) chairman M Kodandaram launched a hunger strike at his residence in Tarnaka today, demanding that the State government repeal the controversial Land Acquisition Amendment Bill passed by the Legislative Assembly on December 28.

Kodandaram originally announced the strike at Indira Park protesting against the Amendment Bill, but shifted the venue to his house as he did not receive a permit to stage a dharna there. Strongly resenting the denial, the JAC chairman said that they would organize the protest at the same place very soon along with people displaced due to the construction of irrigation projects in the State.

Asserting that the Bill passed by the Assembly went against the spirit of the Constitution, Kodandaram asked how a State Assembly could push a bill amending a Parlimentary Act.

According to the Centre's Land Acquisition Act, 2013, State governments have powers to make amendments on the issues of compensation and rehabilitation alone. If a State Assembly adopted a Bill on an issue included in the concurrent list, only the Centre's Act would be valid.

He said that the government brought a bill to the Assembly despite its GO being struck down by the High Court a few months ago. Kodandaram said that the JAC would hold demonstrations at District and Mandal levels on Friday.

Later, Telangana Pradesh Congress President N Uttam Kumar Reddy and Leader of Opposition in the State Assembly K Jana Reddy visited Kodandaram's residence and expressed their solidarity. Accusing the government of taking unilateral decisions without taking the views of the Opposition parties and the plight of displaced farmers into consideration, they warned that they would fight against the Bill by enlisting the support of farmers and other sections of the society.