Arvind Kejriwal to join Anna Hazare’s protest at Jantar Mantar tomorrow

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will join Anna Hazare in his protest against Land Acquisition Bill at Jantar Mantar on Tuesday, said sources in Aam Aadmi Party.

Kejriwal met Hazare at the New Maharashtra Sadan in Delhi on Monday evening in the backdrop of the agitation against the Land ordinance.

Hazare on Monday launched a two-day agitation against the bill, coinciding with the commencement of the Budget session of Parliament.

77-year-old Hazare was joined by hundreds of supporters and Narmada Bachao movement activist Medha Patkar at Jantar Mantar and the activist said he will take the movement against the ordinance to each and every district of the country.

“How can you take away land without farmer’s consent? India is an agricultural country. The government must think about the farmers. The land ordinance is undemocratic,” Hazare said.

“The government cannot be indifferent to the farmers’ interest. This is a government of the people of India and not of England or America. It is the people who have made the government,” he said.

The government is bringing a new bill to replace the Land Ordinance amid stiff opposition from non-NDA parties in Parliament and outside.

The Land Acquisition Act, 2013 stipulates mandatory consent of at least 70 per cent of land owners for acquiring land for Public Private Partnership (PPP) projects and 80 per cent for acquiring land for private companies.

In December last, the government had promulgated the Ordinance making significant changes in the Land Act including removal of consent clause for acquiring land for five areas –industrial corridors, PPP projects, rural infrastructure, affordable housing and defence.