Hazare's month-long march against land bill starts March 25

Wardha (Maharashtra), March 9 (IANS) Social activist Anna Hazare announced Monday a month-long, 2,100-km long "padayatra" from Wardha to Delhi from March 25 against the controversial land acquisition bill.

The 77-year-old made the announcement after meeting farmers' representatives as well as close associates including Aam Aadmi Party's Yogendra Yadav and activists Medha Patkar and Rajendra Singh.

The march will start on March 25 and end on April 27 at the Ramlila Maidan in Delhi, a favourite venue for political protests.

Before launching the protest, Hazare will travel to revolutionary leader Bhagat Singh's village in Punjab and pay homage on his martyrdom anniversary on March 23.

Speaking to the media, Hazare made it clear that "violence will not be tolerated at any cost, otherwise the march will be suspended."

He also said no political leader would be permitted to share the stage at Ramlila ground.

He lashed out at the central government over its "anti-farmer" provisions in the bill and said it was unacceptable to the farming community.

"There is nothing in the bill which can benefit the farmers. The government is not interested in considering the views of the people and farmers.

"(Prime Minister) Narendra Modi only talks, but does nothing. We are not interested in amendments, we want it scrapped," Hazare said.

The protest march will cover Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi.It is aimed at building public opinion against the "anti-farmer" provisions in the Land Acquisition Bill.

Several farmers groups from Maharashtra and other parts of India have thrown their weight behind the march and plan to send volunteers to join it.