Punjab Youth Congress activists today staged demonstration against amendments to the Land Acquisition Act and criticised Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal for his "silence" on the issue.
Led by the Punjab Youth Congress President Vikramjit Singh Chaudhary, Youth Congress activists marched towards the Chief Minister's residence from Congress Bhawan here to gherao him.
However, they were stopped on their way.
When they tried to break the barricades, they were dispersed and some of them were detained by police.
Chaudhary said the amendment to the Land Acquisition Act done by the BJP led NDA government at the Centre was "anti-farmer", aimed at pleasing the corporate sector.
He pointed out, the previous Congress led UPA government had brought a farmer-friendly Act which had safeguarded all the rights of farmers against forcible acquisition of land.
The NDA government, in order to please the corporate and business sector, diluted the Act and instead of bringing it in the parliament, bypassed it and issued an ordinance which not only amounts to betrayal with the farmers but undermining Parliament's authority, he said.
Chaudhary also questioned the pro-farmer claims of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, saying he had aligned with a party which had always been "anti-farmer".
