The Aam Aadmi Party Odisha on Wednesday demanded that the ordinance approved by the Union Cabinet to amend the land Acquisition Act, 2013 be withdrawn forthwith as it would affect poor people of the State.
The party in a statement alleged that the ordinance would nullify movements against forced acquisition and displacement and the proposed exemption of five categories, including defence, industrial corridors, rural infrastructure and affordable housing would help builders, politicians and bureaucrats to act at their own wishes. It alleged that the BJP has decided to favour big businessmen and industrial houses through the ordinance as farmers would not understand or challenge its move. “The onus now is on the farmers to prove this Govt wrong. Particularly, farmers of Odisha would be worst affected as the BJD Govt here has been signing MoUs to get black money for meeting its huge election expenditure,” the party alleged.