Last week saw huge protests in North India due to the Yamuna Expressway highway construction on fertile agricultural lands at unfair compensation rates. After kisan panchayats in U.P, BKU farmers along with others also “gheraoed the parliment” [surrounded the parliment] and blocked the streets of Delhi to demand amendments to the pending Land Acquisition Act.
A broad spectrum of political parties supported their struggle including Rahul Gandhi of Congress, Ajit Singh of the Rashtriya Lok Dal, Arun Jaitley of BJP, Brinda Karat of CPI, Sharad Yadav of Janta Dal and leaders from Telugu Desam, AIADMK and Akali Dal also showed support.
The Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has promised that the bill will be taken up in the next winter session of the parliment. India’s land acquisition act has not changed since 1894 despite efforts in 2007 and 2009. Farmers are hopful that it will be amended soon.
Watch video on LiveMint: http://www.livemint.com/2010/08/26225040/Uttar-Pradesh-farmers-protest.html