New Delhi: Chairman of SC & ST Commission PL
Punia on Monday suggested that land tillers traditionally attached
to a farm land should also be paid compensation and
provided job against land acquired for commercial use.
"Land tillers, majority of whom are from weaker sections,
traditionally attached to an agri land should, besides the
uprooted farmers, should also be paid compensation. The
tillers should be provided job against land acquired for
commercial use," Punia, Congress MP from Uttar Pradesh, said.
Punia was speaking at a meeting of farmers organisations
from Uttar Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Haryana, Rajasthan,
Delhi, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
"Long back I had raised this issue (paying compensation
to land tillers) with late Prime Minister V P Singh," he said.
Congress General Secretary and MP Oscar Fernandes, party
MPs T Meinya and Madan Lal Sharma participated in the meet.
Punia, once a trusted aide of Uttar Pradesh Chief
Minister Mayawati, made a scathing attack on her over the
process of land acquisition in Greater Noida.
"After facing farmers stir the UP government that earlier
blamed absence of any Central legislation on acquisition came
up with the idea of a special package for the farmers whose
land was acquired and sold to real estate...why did not they
do it in the first instance," he questioned.
Senior Congress leader Oscar Fernandes said the UPA
government is committed to formulate Land Acquisition Act.
"After introduction of the bill on Land Acquisition, it
will be referred to a Parliament Standing Committee which will
take opinion of the farmers," Fernandes said.
PTI
