Indian Government Plans Land Grab in Controversial New Bill

India is working to introduce amendments to the country’s existing Land Acquisition law, allowing authorities to acquire land without the consent of landowners for projects in certain spheres such as defense.

NEW DELHI (Sputnik) — India's government is set to introduce changes to the legislation which would enable authorities to acquire land for certain projects without the consent of landowners in parliament on Tuesday.

The government’s ordinance will make major changes to the country’s existing Land Acquisition law, which stipulates that 70 percent of landowners must give their consent for land to be used for public-private partnership projects, and 80 for private projects.

The proposed amendments would remove the consent clause for projects in five areas, namely defense, public-private partnership projects, rural infrastructure, affordable housing and industrial corridors.

Opposition parties have deemed the bill "anti-farmer," while prominent Indian civil rights activist Anna Hazare has launched a two-day protest against the ordinance.

The 77-year-old activist was joined by hundreds of supporters Monday. On Tuesday, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia are set to join Hazare’s protest.