Delhi: CM Arvind Kejriwal Joins Anna Hazare in Protest against Land Acquisition Bill

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal joined veteran social activist Anna Hazare at Jantar Mantar on Tuesday where the latter was protesting against Centre's Land Acquisition Bill.

This was Kejriwal's first protest after he assumed office as the Chief Minister of Delhi. Hazare was in his second day of protest against the contentious Land Ordinance. The Bill was introduced by the government at Lok Sabha amid uproar by the opposition.

Kejriwal, along with sixty six members of the Aam Aadmi Party, joined hands with Hazare to oppose the controversial bill.

Gandhian activist Hazare said he would continue the dharna at Jantar Mantar until the government decides to scrap the anti-farmer land ordinance.

Kejriwal's joining the protest has drawn massive crowd to the protest site. In 2011, Hazare and Kejriwal had staged a protest together for the Lokpal Bill at the same venue.

Early on Tuesday, Hazare had informed the media that he would welcome political parties with open arms to take part in the protest but would not let anybody share the stage with him as it would indicate that the party is behind the endeavour.

"If the political parties come on the stage, then it would appear that it is being done by the party," Business Standard quoted Hazare as saying.

Hazare is upset that the land ordinance only takes into account the corporate and neglects the interests of the farmers. Hazare was joined by several thousands of farmers since he began the protest on Monday.

The Land Acquisition Act, 2013 stipulates mandatory consent of at least 70% of land owners for acquiring land for Public Private Partnership (PPP) projects and 80% for acquiring land for private companies, according to PTI.