YS Jagan promises legal support to Amaravati farmers opposing land pooling

Vijayawada: YSRCP president and former chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy assured legal and political support to farmers from the Amaravati capital region, who alleged coercion and irregularities in the ongoing land pooling and land acquisition process.He said YSRCP will review the land acquisition process once it returned to power and ensure justice to affected landowners.Farmers from Undavalli, Penumaka, Nidamarru, Yerrabalem and Kuragallu met Jagan at the YSRCP central office on Tuesday and complained that the state govt was “exerting pressure” to part with their land parcels in the name of capital city development. They alleged that despite refusing to join land pooling schemes, their lands were being shown as acquired in official records and, in some cases, returnable plots had allegedly been registered in favour of others.After hearing their grievances, Jagan announced that the YSRCP would constitute a dedicated legal panel to fight on behalf of affected farmers. He charged that the govt was resorting to forceful land acquisition and said his party would pursue legal remedies to protect farmers’ interests. “The farmers should be happy with any development model. More than 50,000 acres have already been acquired for the capital. Why is there a need for another 50,000 acres?” Jagan wondered.