Medha Patkar accuses govt of suppressing rights of farmers

Vijayawada: Noted social activist and environmentalist Medha Pathkar accused the state government of trying to suppress the rights of the farmers by amending Land acquisition Act 2013. She said that the Land Acquisition Act 2013 was enacted after many years of struggle by environmentalists, political parties and social activists.

Calls upon civil societies, social activists and political parties to stand united in opposing the amendments made by state government to Land Acquisition Act - 2013

She addressed a meeting organised by Rytu Coolie Sangham, here on Saturday. Speaking on the occasion, Medha Patkar slammed the state government for doing injustice to the thousands of farmers by forcibly taking their lands under the pretext of land pooling scheme.

Referring to Land Acquisition Act 2013 made by Central Government, she said the act would be very useful to the farmers and it would protect the interest of the farmers. She felt the act should be continued in all states to safeguard the interests of the farmers. She said the farmers, civil society organisations and political parties have to fight collectively and meet the President of India to request the latter to reject the bill sent by the state government for consideration.

Medha Patkar has expressed apprehensions that if the Bill becomes law lakhs of farmers in the state would suffer. Former Minister and farmers leader Vadde Sobhandreeswara Rao has underlined the need to oppose the land acquisition amendment bill. He said the farmers, civil society organisations would move the Supreme Court against the amendments made by state government. He came down heavily on the government for suppressing the rights of the farmers and forcibly taking the lands in the pretext of land acquisition or land pooling.