Manipal: The Udupi-Chikkamagaluru LS Constituency unit of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) staged a protest on January 9, near the Deputy Commissioner’s Office Rajathadri Manipal against the Centre’s Land Acquisition ordinance.
Gurudev S H, AAP candidate of Udupi-Chikkamagaluru LS Constituency, alleged that the move was meant to serve the interest of the corporates and would reduce the “bargaining power” of farmers.
“The Act (2013) had increased the bargaining power of farmers who stood to get their rights. The Union government is taking the country back to colonial rule by making the law akin to the 1984 Land Acquisition Law,” he said.
“The government is trying to serve the interests of the corporates without thinking about adivasis and farmers. It is facilitating the way for giving land to industrialists following the so-called Gujarat model,” he added.
The Aam Aadmi Party will strongly oppose the amendments made and demands that the government immediately withdraw the ordinance, and bring any proposed amendments to the floor of the Parliament for a full debate, he said.
Later, the protesters submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister of India through the Deputy Commissioner of Udupi district.