Critical Times

July 17, 2007 By Devinder Sharma

It was on the cards. With Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announcing the formation of a new rehabilitation policy for farmers displaced from land acquisitions, it is now official—farmers have to quit agriculture.

Ever since the Congress-led UPA Coalition assumed power after an angry rural protest vote threw out the erstwhile BJP-led NDA combination in May 2004, the Prime Minister had initiated a plethora of new policies for the spread of industrialization.

Politics in the pub: “Do we “open up the land” or is public housing the answer to affordability ?” Featuring Dr Cathy Arthurson, senior research fellow school of natural & built environments, SA Uni & Gary Wilson, Shelter SA. Wed Sept 13, 7.30pm, meal at 6pm.

Australians are taking the unprecedented step of urgently petitioning the Senate to defer
its vote on a Bill that will see Aboriginal people pressured into giving up their land for the
next century.
Under the guise of promoting economic development, the legislation could see
indigenous people lease back their land for 99 years in exchange for securing basic
services – such as housing and schools.
Nationally thousands have joined with Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation
(ANTaR) and Australia’s leading independent campaign organisation, GetUp, to demand
that senators undertake the proper consultation and due diligence such fundamental
legislation so clearly requires before they vote.