Bengaluru, Jul 16: Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa led state government’s move to amend the Karnataka Land Reforms Act was “a scam bigger than illegal mining” as farm lands worth Rs 50,000 crore will be lost, according to Leader of the Opposition Siddaramaiah.
The government on July 13 promulgated an ordinance to amend the Karnataka Land Reforms Act, allowing non-agriculturists to buy agricultural lands while also increasing the cap on the extent of such land a person or a family can hold.
Plus, the amendment will have retrospective effect, meaning over 13,000 cases registered over the years for alleged violations in acquiring farm lands will be vacated or dismissed.
“There are 13,814 cases across all 30 districts. Let’s assume that each case involves four acres of land. That’s 52,000 acres. These are lands worth Rs 45,000-50,000 crore,” Siddaramaiah told a news conference. “This is a scam bigger than illegal mining. While the mining scam had specific players, here the entire government has fallen for the corporate bodies and real estate lobby.”
The illegal mining scam unearthed when the BJP was in power was pegged at Rs 35,000 crore, which became a poll plank for the Congress to come to power in 2013.
Calling it a “black” legislation, Siddaramaiah said the amendments to the land reforms law will result in large portions of farm lands becoming real estate. “This will destroy the farming community. They’ll now have to stand at the doors of corporate bodies. Farmers will sell their land and real estate will come. What’ll happen to food production?” he said.
The ordinance amends Section 63 and 80 of the Act, while omitting Sections 79A, B and C. “These sections were inserted in 1974 under the D Devaraj Urs government. It was a revolutionary, progressive step to protect farmers and ensure social justice,” Siddaramaiah said.
The Congress leader claimed that there was a “biggest conspiracy” behind this. “All this is being driven by the Modi government. They want to privatize more and more so that reservations will go. They want to bring back the zamindari system,” he said, citing the examples of some other recent amendments to other laws.
The timing of the ordinance is suspect, he said. “If the Yediyurappa government really wanted to help farmers and had good intentions, they could’ve brought this before the Assembly or placed it for public discussion. Instead, they’ve made use of the lockdown period to promulgate the ordinance,” he said.
The Congress will fight the ordinance till it gets withdrawn, Siddaramaiah said. “We will talk to other parties, farmers organisations and Dalit groups to plan protests against the BJP’s hidden agenda and anti-farmer policies,” he added.
He was hospitalized on the previous day after he suddenly took ill.
Comments
No words to speak after hearing the sad demise my favorate Mr. P.C.M. Kunhi. I met him last year in the month of April 2015 on my vacation in a programme. He spoke to me and asked about my wishes. Great Educationist, Academist, Philanthropist and wise man.
Helping hand for poor. I was with him in Yenepoya Dental College at Zulekha Complex, Bunder.
May Allah bestow him Jannathul Firdouse and Give him a cool and heavenly life in Barzak.
Aameen Ya Rabbul Aalameen..
Innaa Lillahi Wa Innaa llaihi Raajivoon. May the departed soul rest in peace. May Allah accept all his good deeds and forgive the sins. May Allah bless him with Jannah. May Allah give sabr ( patience ) to the grieved family to bear the loss of their dear one.
Heartfelt condolences.
our deepest condolences to the family members of pc kunhi,
we pray with almighty Allah give patience and strength to the nearest and dearest of all his family members, this is a great loss to all of us, once again we pray for the magfirah of departed soul of kind and soft man. Ameen
to Allah we belong and to Him is our return
our heartfelt condolences to the family members of pc kunhi . may Allah give patience, strength to all his nearest and dearest, the great loss of our family, my deepest condolence to all of them,
we once again pray with almighty for the maghfirah of departed soul of kind and soft man, ameen
Please accept our deepest condolences, \to Allah we belong and to Him is our return\""
Inna Lillahi wa Inna Ilahi Rajiwoon. Very sad and shocking news. We are with the aggrieved family
Inna Lillahi wa Inna Ilaihi Rajioon. May Allah grant him jannah. Indeed he was a great motivator. Hope his son Hashir will fulfill dreams of his father.
A great loss to the community and society. He was a role model for many. Despite his ill health he continued to fulfill his responsibilities.
Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi raajioun. May Almighty Allah bestow with Jannathul Firdouse. A big loss to entire coastal muslims as well as for Islamic Academy of Education (Yenepoya University).
INNA LILLAHI WA INNA ILAIHI RAAJIOON.
The big loss for Muslim Community. He was the Correspondent of Badria College for decades.
May Almighty ALLAH bless him with Jannathul Firdous.
Inna Lillahi Wa inna ilaahi rajioon
The Great Academician, Educationist, Administrator,Philanthropist. the really big loss for the society, we wish him to take rebirth.
RIP, condolences to the family and loved ones.
RIP sir
wanaqalat shaqqana
unbelievable...really really hard to believe
Unbearable loss to the society “RIP”
Inna Lillahi Va Inna Ilaihi Raajivoon...
Inna Lillahi wa Inna Ilaihi Rajihoon. Allahummghfirlahoo warhamhoo whafu anhoo Yaa Rabbal Aalameen. May Almighty Allah bestow him with the Janathul Firdouse. ameen.
Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un
inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi raajioun. we pray almighty allah to bless late.prof.p.c.m.kunhi, with his jannathul firdouse, aameen. our heartfelt condolences to the family members of prof.p.c.m.kunhi. may almighty allah give patience, strength and forbearance to all his family members to bear the brunt of bereavement. a soft spoken, well qualified civil engineer, educationist., academician and also an entrepreneur with humility. a very good footballer and a keen sportsman in his heydays. prof.p.c.m.kunhi, is closely known to us for the past 40+years., since his teaching days in krec-surathkal (now-nitk). particularly mangalore muslim community and others have lost a decent gentleman with high esteem. we once again pray with almighty allah for the maghfirah of the departed soul of this noble gentleman, aameen.
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