MANGALORE : There was forcible acquisition of the lands of farmers at Kudubipadavu and Kuttettur on Thursday, even as Pejawar Seer Sri Vishwesha Theertha Swamiji had recently said that the state home and industries ministers had assured him that the authorities would not enter farmers’ land until the government took a decision on land acquisition.
It may be recalled here that the state Home Minister VS Acharya and Industries Minister Murugesh Nirani had recently during their meeting with the seer had assured him that the land of the farmers would not be touched until a decision was taken on land acquisition after the assembly session. The ministers’ meeting with the seer took place after the latter had threatened to go on a hunger strike from March 6 opposing forcible land acquisition and to denotify the 2035 acres of land notified for SEZ.
Believing the home minister’s words, the Pejawar seer in a press meet in Bangalore, had announced that he had postponed his hunger strike following an assurance by the government and also that the government had sought time to announce its decision. The Pejawar seer had in fact invited a lot of criticism after he postponed his hunger strike for the fourth successive time.
When The Canara Times contacted the Pejawar seer following the latest development, he said “ I do not know why they took such a step. I will visit the spot and take necessary action.”

HC ruling sidelined
Let alone the words of the Pejawar seer, the state government was not even adhering to the High Court ruling on land acquisition. When the SEZ had acquired four more acre land of the Kudubis to lay an approach road for the bungalows of the SEZ contactors constructed in the agricultural lands of Kudubipadavu, a writ had been filed in the High Court through a local social activist. The court had ruled that status quo be maintained in the land. Still the SEZ contractors who arrived at the spot with the JCB machinery and other vehicles initiated the works of laying the road forcibly.

What happened to Nalin’s report ?
No sooner Pejawar seer had announced his hunger strike, the Dakshina Kannada MP Nalin Kumar Kateel had tried to persuade him to drop his agitation by saying “ No scope would be given to acquire even an inch of land for the SEZ. I will visit Kudubipadavu and other areas notified for SEZ and prepare a report on the affected people.” But until now there is no report of Nalin visiting Kudubipadavu to prepare the report !

Related news:

1. No land acquisition until clear-cut decision on SEZ: CM’s assurance to Pejawar seer
2. Pejawar Seer to go on indefinite hunger strike against MSEZ from March 6
3. Pejawar seer gives anti-SEZ agitators a slip again ; drops hunger strike for 5th time
4. SEZ officials’ discourtesy to Pejawar seer invites ire
5. Pejawar seer puts off anti-SEZ stir for 4th time !