Respect bond between tiller, land: FM

TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2007 02:52:39 AM]

NEW DELHI: With the raging controversy over land acquisition for special
economic zones (SEZs) and other industrial projects in Singur, Nandigram
and Kalinganargar in the backdrop, finance minister P Chidambaram on
Tuesday said the “sacred tie” between land and the tiller should be
respected and any attempt to snap that relationship is bound to face
opposition.

His remark complements Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s promise on Monday
to enact a fair and humane rehabilitation policy for those ousted by
industrial activity. “There is a sacred tie between the tiller and land.
That tie can never be broken. Any attempt to snap the relationship
between the tiller and the land is bound to face opposition,” Mr
Chidambaram said.

He said the UPA government was committed to inclusive growth. The only
way to ensure the farmer’s cooperation is by means of fair and
transparent compensation and rehabilitation.

Identifying agriculture as the “gravest challenge”, the FM said
instruments, which were employed in industry, and services need to be
employed in agriculture to bring about a dramatic change in growth rates
and modernise agriculture.

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