JOIN USThe JD(S) on Tuesday warned of intensifying the agitation if the State government failed to protect the interest of farmers on the issue of Inam land in the State.
Addressing reporters, party spokesperson Ramesh Babu said the government should take immediate steps to ensure ownership for the Inam land holders by enacting a legislation. Appropriate legal steps should also be taken to stop the Forest department from evicting the farmers holding Inam lands, he added.
The Congress, in its 2013 Assembly election manifesto, promised to take necessary legal steps to confer ownership on the farmers. But after coming to power, it has begun “forcibly evicting” the farmers. Lakhs of farmers in Chikmagalur, Chitradurga, Bellary, Koppal and Chamarajnagar districts are holding Inam land, he added.
The JD(S) has taken up the issue of eviction of Inam land holders in Kalasa in Chikmagalur district with an eye on the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. Forest Minister Ramanath Rai said steps have been taken to identify forest and revenue lands.
“It is an old issue. Previous governments had not taken any decision in this regard. The Congress government will take necessary legal action to protect the interests of farmers,” he stated.