Indian villagers staged moving protest against proposed amendments to land acquisition bill

Amid marches, dharnas and petitions, a group of tribal villagers in Jharkhand, eastern India, launched an unusual protest against the Narendra Modi government's land reforms. Led by land rights activists, about 60 villagers gathered in front of the Barwadih block office in Naxal-affected Latehar last Sunday and defecated on copies of the proposed amendments to the land acquisition act.



Those who led the protest said the aim was to shock and make a point, and have said they plan to hold similar agitations across Jharkhand, which is ruled by Mr Modi's BJP. They idea they said came from within the tribal community in Latehar who wanted to "raise a stink about the bill." The extreme act, said the protesters, was to register their opposition to the removal of the "consent" clause in the law.

Thay also demand the reinstatement of a social impact assessment when land is acquired for big projects. In an ordinance or temporary executive order, the Modi government has dropped the need for consent of 80 per cent land owners in an area where land is being acquired and a mandatory social impact assessment for projects in five key sectors, provoking massive protests by farmers and landowners and also opposition parties.

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Those changes now need the approval of Parliament and the bill that ratifies the ordinance has passed by the Lok Sabha or lower House. But the opposition has vowed to stop it in the Rajya Sabha or upper house, where the BJP-led government is in a minority. Farmers and social activists are assisting those efforts to try and stop the government from getting the bills passed in both Houses of parliament in the next few days. The ordinance lapses on April 5.