Activists to protest against land acquisition Tuesday

Terming the ordinance amending the land acquisition act as "anti-people", activists Monday said they will protest against it from Tuesday.

"This is not democracy. Without consultations, they (ministers) are taking big decisions," activist Medha Patkar told reporters here.

"We will launch a protest in the entire country. We do not want any discussions or clarifications, but a complete repeal of the ordinance," she said.

Patkar said everyone is invited for the protest, including political parties if they want. "We have never considered political parties as untouchables," she said.

CPI leader Atul Anjan said: "There is no father-figure in our protest, rather every farmer is a leader in the protest."

Anti-corruption activist Anna Hazare held a demonstration at Jantar Mantar here Monday. He said he will not allow the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) or the Congress to share the stage with him at the protest venue and the leaders of the two parties can join it as common people.

Atul Anjan said if the ordinance was allowed to become law, then agriculture in the country will be destroyed. "Our food security will be lost," he said.

The activists said they had sought an appointment with President Pranab Mukherjee Tuesday over the matter.

The organisations which would be part of the protest include National Alliance of People's Movements, All India Union of Forest Working People and the Ekta Parishad. - IANS