CPI(M) protests over NICE land issue, seeks implementation of High Court order

You don’t have any Active Subscription.

Account subscription benefits alongside Premium Stories, Editorials, Opinions and more. Unlock these with Subscription

Members of the CPI(M) staging a protest in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Kalaburagi on Saturday. | Photo Credit: ARUN KULKARNI

The CPI(M) staged a protest in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s office on Saturday, demanding implementation of the Karnataka High Court’s July 29 order on land acquired for the Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise (NICE) project and opposing the government’s attempts to arrest leaders of farmers and labourers.

The party’s district committee later submitted a memorandum addressed to Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar at the Deputy Commissioner’s office, seeking immediate action on the issues.

The CPI(M) demanded that owners who lost their land for the NICE project be given back their land and that toll collections which it termed illegal be stopped.

The protesters alleged that the State government had failed to implement the court’s order and was instead attempting to suppress protests by arresting leaders of farmers and labourers.

The party alleged that Karnataka Prantha Raitha Sangha State president U. Basavaraj, leaders N. Venkatachalaiah, Shivanna and Chandranna, and labour leader Mahantesh were among those targeted.

The protesters alleged that the government was restricting democratic protests outside Freedom Park in Bengaluru citing another High Court but it is not implementing the same court’s order on the NICE project.

The party sought the unconditional release of the arrested the leaders, the right to hold democratic protests across the State, return of land remaining with the NICE to the affected farmers and an immediate halt to what it described as illegal toll collection.

The protest was led by CPI(M) district secretary K. Neela, secretariat member Sudham Dhanni.

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments.

We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of The Hindu and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.