Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee took to the streets yesterday in protest against the Narendra Modi government’s ordinance amending the land acquisition act, calling it anti-farmer.

Thousands of Trinamool Congress (TMC) workers wearing black badges, covering their mouth with black cloth marched alongside the chief minister protesting against the bill that many believe will affect the farmers in India severely.

‘Draconian ordinance’

Speaking at the rally Banerjee accused the union government of being anti-farmer and pro-industrialist. She said the bill is being modified to please industrialists who had sponsored the multi-million rupees campaign during last year’s parliamentary election.

“All this is being done at the behest of those who had invested crores of rupees during the campaign. While they had promised ‘acche din’ (good days) it was meant only for the rich and not the poor farmer who toils hard,” Banerjee thundered at the rally.

TMC supporters, who termed the bill as “draconian” and “kala ordinance” (black ordinance), had been protesting against the bill inside the parliament and vowed to block it, especially in the Rajya Sabha (upper house of parliament), where BJP does not enjoy a majority.

“We did not allow the bill to pass hence they have taken the ordinance route to favour the rich. The party will use all its might to ensure that the bill doesn’t pass,” Banerjee said.

“I had fasted against Singur land for 21 days. If required I will sit on a fast again to protect the farmers,” she added.

However, some political analysts believe the real reason for Banerjee’s protest is to keep the land accusation issue burning at least until the 2016 assembly elections.

“No one understands the importance of the issue of land accusation better than Mamata. She had won the state in 2011 due to faulty land accusation policy by the CPI-M government. Now by focusing on the land bill she wants to keep the BJP at bay in the state,” said Prasun Dey, a political scientist.