Medha Patkar proposes cap on property owned by the rich

 Social activist Medha Patkar today demanded capping the properties owned by the rich while accusing the state governments of Maharashtra and Gujarat of discriminating in land acquisition for developmental projects.

"Ameeri rekha" (richness line) be drafted to prevent the rich from amassing wealth. There should be a limit for owning property and if any person owns property over the Richness Line, he should be forced to pay tax along with the rate of interest on the excess property," Patkar told reporters here.

Demanding release of manifestos prior to poll dates, she said," Party candidates should make their manifestos public before election dates are announced so that they can be asked to implement them after they come to power...The method of campaigning should be changed to avoid malpractices in elections".

"2.36 lakh hectares of land across Maharashtra and Gujarat is going to be acquired by the respective governments under the guise of setting up mega industrial zones, airports, ports, industrial hubs and other projects...While the land owned by the political leaders is spared. The lands should be acquired in mutual consent," she said.