Govt cheating farmers by acquiring land under KIADB Act: BJP

 BJP leader Jagadish Shettar on Saturday charged the State government with trying to cheat the farmers by acquiring land for railway projects under the KIADB Act.

Addressing reporters, he said the farmers whose lands will be acquired under the KIADB Act will get compensation as per the guidance value. If the Congress government headed by Siddaramaiah has any concern for the farmers, it should acquire land as per the 2013 Land Acquisition Act enacted by the then UPA government. The land should be acquired paying four times the market value as per the 2013 Act, he added.

The State government has an option either to adopt the new land acquisition ordinance or follow the 2013 Act for acquiring lands. Double standard of the Congress has been exposed now. It is unwilling to follow the 2013 Act. Perhaps the chief minister knows full well that it is not possible to acquire land under the 2013 Act. So he is maintaining silence in this regard, he charged.

Shettar demanded that the government should roll back recent hike in fee to professional courses in the State. Though Higher Education Minister R V Deshpande said steps will be taken to ensure that the poor students are not burdened, he has not clarified how the government is going to help the students who belong to economically-weaker section, he said.

Industrial development of the State has received a huge set back in the last few years. Siddaramaiah has held only three high-level clearance committee meetings for approving industry projects. And none of the projects cleared by the committee has been implemented so far, he charged. Besides, the government has taken up confrontation with Governor Vajubhai Vala.

Instead of recommending able and eligible persons for the post of chairman and members of KPSC, the chief minister proposed names of Congressmen and his close aides. Hence, the Governor rejected four of the eight names recommended, he added.