Watch interests of food growers in land act, says Badal

Chandigarh, March 24 (IANS) Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Tuesday urged the NDA central government to watch the interests of the food growers of the nation while amending the Land Acquisition Bill.

Badal, who is the patron of the National Democratic Alliance constituent Shiromani Akali Dal, said his party will safeguard the interests of the farmers.

The Akali Dal recently supported the land acquisition bill passed by the Lok Sabha.

Badal's remarks came a day after he shared the stage with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday in a Punjab village on the occasion of Martyrs' Day.

"I hope that the NDA government at Centre would watch the interests of the food growers of the nation while amending the land acquisition bill," Badal told media on the sidelines of an event near here.

Punjab, with just 1.54 percent of the country's geographical area, contributes over 50 percent of food grains to the central kitty.

Badal said he has urged the central government to ensure adequate compensation, consent and rehabilitation of the farmers before acquiring even an inch of their land.

Citing the example of Punjab, Badal said that farmers in the state had been fully compensated whenever any land was acquired for development.

"Ever since assuming power in 2007, we have been pursuing a pro-farmer policy of land acquisition, which is a role model for the entire country," he added.