BJP era Land Reforms Act to be amended: Siddu tells farmers

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah vowed that the Land Reforms Act 2020 passed by the previous BJP State government would be amended.

He made the comments after inaugurating the farmer's conference organised on the occasion of the 88th birth anniversary of farmer leader Professor MD Nanjundaswamy of the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS or Karnataka State Farmers' Association) at Freedom Park in Bengaluru on Saturday.

On the occasion, he vowed to take the demands of farmers seriously and accept the memorandum submitted by the farmers' association to formulate a pro-farmer budget.

“(KRRS state president) Badagalapura Nagendra raised some issues during this convention. Among them, amendment of the Land Reforms Act 2020 figured prominently. I assure you that we will definitely do it,” Siddaramaiah said.

“They said APMC (Agriculture Produce Market Committee) Act should also be amended. We have done it but it has been forwarded to the joint select committee. When the due process is done, we’ll pass it and make it a law,” he added.

The CM informed the crowd that 20 or so demands were made by the KRRS. The APMC Act had been blocked by the Opposition BJP and JD(S) in the Council last year.

Praise for Nanjundaswamy

Siddaramaiah reached out to the farmers, assuring them that Nanjundaswamy's farmer movement was a political inspiration to him as well.

Nanjundaswamy's birth anniversary is coming up on Tuesday (February 13).

“The study circle organized by Nanjundaswamy gave insight into many issues. We got clarity about socialist economy and socialist politics. Many lecturers, professors and writers used to visit this study circle. I benefited from their guidance,” Siddaramaiah said.

“Nanjundaswamy was very active on issues related to farmers till the end. The farmers’ movement was started by him. He was in favour of socialist aspirations and became a pillar of support for solving the problems of farmers. Participating in farmers’ movements and farmers’ conventions is also a matter of great pleasure and pride for me. Nanjundaswamy and farmers’ movement has made an impact on society and governments,” he added.