http://www.indianexpress.com/news/mayawati-backs-demand-for-amendment-of-land-acquisition-act/663567/
Mayawati backs demand for amendment of Land Acquisition Act Agencies Posted online: Mon Aug 23 2010, 23:56 hrs Lucknow : Under fire on the issue of land acquisition for an Expressway project, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati today backed the demand for amendment to the Land Acquisition Act while blaming "shortcomings" of the legislation for the recent farmers' agitation in the state. "Mayawati has said her government and party supported the demand of farmers regarding amendment in the Land Acquisition Act 1894," Cabinet Secretary Shashank Shekhar Singh told reporters here. She has also backed the proposed plan of farmers to gherao Parliament on August 26 on the issue, he said. Meanwhile Mayawati, in a statement, claimed the farmers were forced to take to the streets "every now and then due to shortcomings in the Act". "Since long the farmers had been demanding to redefine public purpose in the act, but pro-industrialist governments at the Centre kept mum on the issue," she said in a statement. Mayawati alleged that in the name of SEZ 50,000 hectare land of farmers was acquired and handed over to industrialists across the country. "Due to the anti-farmer policy of the UPA, they are forced to agitate in several states in the country," she alleged. The CM further charged that lakhs of acres of forest land were acquired in the name of industrialisation due to which tribals were dislodged from their native place and "have now taken to naxalism". She alleged that during its six-year regime even the previous NDA government overlooked the problem of the farmers. "The BJP leaders, instead of wasting time in giving speeches during farmers agitation, should create pressure on the Centre to amend the act," she said. Mayawati said her party was of the view that farmers land should be acquired only with their consent. "To protect the interest of the farmers, in 2007 the BSP government implemented a new policy wherein land would be taken as per the agreement rules," she said. Mayawati claimed that as far as issue related to farmers land in Aligarh and Agra was concerned, it had been resolved. "Anti-government elements were trying to disturb law and order situation in the state in the name of this issue," she alleged. "Instead of visiting these places, people of various political parties should create pressure on the Centre for permanent solution to the problem of the farmers and ensure amendment in the Act," she said.
