DMK chief Karunanidhi opposes AIADMK'S support to Land Bill, calls protests

Chennai: Days after the Land Bill was passed in the Lok Sabha, DMK chief Karunanidhi on Friday alleged that the AIADMK's "sudden support" to it had "ulterior motive" and announced a demonstration on March 20 across Tamil Nadu against the Bill.

"The AIADMK which initially opposed the Land (Amendment) Bill vigorously [however] voted with the government due to some reason and ulterior motive," Karunanidhi said in a statement.

Though the AIADMK had initially opposed the Bill in the Lok Sabha, it eventually supported it when voting took place with amendments. Slamming BJP as "adamantine which adopted the Bill in Lok Sabha by using its majority," Karunanidhi alleged that it took away the rights of farmers and helped big corporates. Recalling opposition to the Bill from several quarters including that of his party, right from the start when an ordinance was promulgated, he said a protest would be held across the state on March 20.

"To condemn the Centre for passing the Bill in Lok Sabha and for trying to get it adopted in Rajya Sabha despite opposition from a majority of people, the DMK will stage protests in front of all Collectorates," he said.

Also, they would urge the state government to order a CBI probe into the recent alleged suicide of an Agriculture Department senior official and launch of criminal proceedings against a former minister over the incident. Agri S S Krishnamurthy who held the agriculture portfolio was dropped from the state cabinet last week and relieved of his party posts after the death of S Muthukumarasamy, an executive engineer of the agriculture department.