Land Acquisition Bill will ensure land is not acquired by force: Mamata Banerjee

Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee today said the proposed Land Acquisition Bill will ensure that land was not forcibly acquired for industry.

"We have shown the way through Singur and Nandigram movements against the forcible acquisition of land for industries," Banerjee told a rally by the party's student's wing here.

"There is similar demand from Singur to Nandigram, from Aligarh to Lalgarh against the forcible acquisition of land. We have been constantly saying that no land should be acquired forcibly. And, no forcible acquisition land will get priority in the proposed land law," Banerjee said.

Her remarks came a few days after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had met prime minister Manmohan Singh who assured him that the bill would be brought in the next session of Parliament.

Banerjee, the railway minister, said she had made it a policy that no land would be acquired for railway projects.

Banerjee who has coined the slogan 'Ma, Mati Manush' (Mother, Land and People) announced the formation of the 'Ma, Mati, Manush brigade' which would help people in times of need.

"Members of the brigade will help in providing education to the needy, medical treatment and services in times of emergency," she said.