The Opposition DMK led by nonagenarian M Karunanidhi, struggling hard to stage a comeback in Tamil Nadu after facing successive electoral defeats since 2011, launched a State-wide agitation on Friday against the land Acquisition Bill introduced by the BJP Government at the Centre. While Karunanidhi led the agitation in Chennai, other members of his family like MK Stalin led protest marches elsewhere in the State.
The DMK patriarch reminded the BJP that if the aspirations of the people in the country are not respected by the rulers, they would be thrown out lock stock and barrel by the same people who elected them. Karunanidhi wanted the BJP leadership to listen to the words of wisdom from Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and social activist Anna Hazare and make necessary amendments in the land Acquisition Bill in its present form. He took pot-shots at his bête noire AIADMK leader and former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa for her support to the Bill in spite of her opposition to the same Bill when it was brought in by the UPA in which the DMK was a prominent partner.
Though Karunanidhi said that Jayalalithaa's support to the Bill was in return to personal favours, he did not elaborate on the favours. last week Jayalalithaa had issued two statements explaining to the farmers of the State the reason behind the AIADMK's support to the Bill. She had said that the Narendra Modi Government had accepted all the amendments moved by the AIADMK with regard to the Bill which would empower the State Government to have the last word in all issues regarding the acquisition of land for various development projects.