The central and state governments have announced that Chennai’s 2nd airport will be set up at Parantur in Kanchipuram district. Lands in 12 villages namely Valathur, Parantur, 144 Thandalam, Nelwai, Melpadavur, Madhapuram under Kanchipuram taluk and Ekanapuram, Etayarapakkam, Gunakarambakkam, Mahadevi Mangalam, Akkamapuram, Singlipadi under Sriperumbudur taluka are being taken over to construct the airport.
People in the area are protesting against the construction of the new airport in order to acquire agricultural land for the construction of Chennai’s 2nd airport at Parantur. Various political parties and social organizations are supporting the struggle of the villagers.
In this situation, it was reported that BR Pandian, Chairman of the Coordination Committee of All Farmers Associations of Tamil Nadu, is coming to meet the villagers and farmers of Ekanapuram who are protesting against the construction of an airport at Paranthur.
B.R. Kanchipuram District Police S.P. got information about Pandian coming to meet the villagers of Ekanapuram without proper permission. Under the leadership of Sudhakar, a large number of policemen engaged in intensive security operations in Parantur, Ekanapuram, Kannanthangal, Nelwai, etc.
At that time, the Kanchipuram district police stopped and arrested BR Pandian and executives VKV Duraisamy and Saithai Siva, who were coming by car through the Neervallur village area adjacent to the Chennai-Bengaluru road.
PR went without proper permission to meet the people of Ekanapuram protesting the construction of the new airport. The police arrested 3 people including Pandya and took them to B-6 Magaral Kanchipuram – Police Station, Kanchipuram District.
Tamil Nadu All Farmers Unions Coordinating Committee Chairman P.R. Pandian, Chennai Zone President VKV Duraisamy and Secretary Saithai Siva have been released.
After his release, B.R. Pandian said to the press: “There is a conflict between the farmers and the government regarding the construction of an airport in Paranthur area of Kanchipuram district near Chennai. This should be consulted in person. With the high aim of understanding their wishes and the depth of their problems, we made the trip based on informing the police and the government in advance and discussing with the farmers.
We are not against setting up or developing an airport. But the price fixed by the government for agricultural land is very low. The value of the apartments there is high. Those farmers have presented an argument that you should leave the lands in that village and take the remaining lands.
So knowing the true situation, we went to meet some people there to reach the government on behalf of our organization, as the voice of the farmers.
I request the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. By oppression, Anava cannot oppress the farmers and expropriate the farmlands. Already, in 2019, the AIADMK government passed a law to expropriate agricultural land without consent. I requested to object to it. DMK filed a case in the Supreme Court. I don’t know how they put the arguments in the case. But, even now, I am appealing to the Chief Minister to withdraw the Act. Farmers should not acquire land without consent. While acquiring farmers’ lands, farmers’ lands should not be acquired at a bargain price in the name of market value. Their residences cannot be disposed of without due value. They should be given proper accommodation. In the name of building an airport, it is a democratic assassination to use the police to expropriate valuable land and prevent the leaders of farmers’ unions from going there. It should be the same approach as you approached these struggles as the Leader of the Opposition. You must not compel the police to overreach in the name of your orders.
The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu should take full responsibility for this. Farmers should also be made partners when approaching such development projects. You are building the airport and paving the way for Adani and Ambani. You give permission to big businessmen to build roads and toll gates. But why is it denied to farmers who lose their livelihood by giving land to it and giving them an annual dividend on the profits? Why refuse to include them as partners? We embrace growth. But we will not accept if our livelihood is taken away.” He said that.
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