Cong to support farmers' agitation against land for Posco

Bangalore, Jul 9: The Congress said today (Jul 9) it would participate in farmers' protest against acquisition of land for Korean steel major Posco, as it raised serious questions about the proposed project itself.

"Congress will participate in the agitation of farmers", President of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee G Parameshwara categorically said at a press conference.

Acquiring land forcibly and without consent of farmers is wrong, he said. Posco has proposed to set up a Rs 32,366 crore steel project in Mundaragi Taluk of Gadag district on 3300-plus acres.

Parameshwara said the project itself has given room for several questions - why does the company need such large tracts of land? Why does it want to set up the plant only in Gadag? and why is Government trying to acquire land for Posco on a war-footing, what''s the reason ?

He said nobody can believe that the project would generate 10,000 jobs, adding, it would not create employment for more than 500 people. "Are the people gullible?"

Reports said most farmers in Halligudi and surrounding villages in the Taluk are against giving their land for Posco.

Gadag in-charge and Women and Child Welfare Minister C C Patil who visited Mundaragi yesterday as a Government emissary to convince farmers to part with their land incurred the wrath of anti-Posco villagers. The State government has maintained that it would not acquire the land forcibly.

PTI