Congress MLA seeks Rahul Gandhi's intervention to review Karnataka land reform amendments

Senior Congress MLA B R Patil has written to party leader Rahul Gandhi seeking his intervention for a comprehensive review of amendments to the Karnataka Land Reforms Act that relaxed restrictions on purchasing and holding agricultural land.

Patil seeks review of land reforms

In his letter, the ruling party legislator said the issue warranted urgent attention in view of the Congress' 2023 Karnataka Assembly election manifesto commitment to repeal what the party termed "anti-farmer laws" enacted by the previous BJP government.

Patil specifically sought a review of the amendments that substantially eased the earlier restrictions governing the purchase and holding of agricultural land.

The Congress MLA enclosed with his letter a copy of a question he raised in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly and the State government's recent response, besides a media report which referred to approximately 19.92 lakh acres of agricultural land having changed hands following the removal of the earlier restrictions.

Concerns over agricultural land transfers

He said the issue had implications beyond individual land transactions and concerned the continuing reduction of land available for cultivation, the position of small and marginal farmers, the rural economy and the state's long-term food security.

Patil urged Gandhi to take up the matter at the appropriate level within the party and seek a comprehensive review by the state government of the amendments to the Karnataka Land Reforms Act.

The review, he said, "should examine the extent of agricultural land transferred after the relaxation of the restrictions, the nature and pattern of such transfers and their impact on cultivation and small landholders."

"It should also assess whether the existing statutory framework continued to serve the larger public interest," he said.

Call for safeguards and policy roadmap

Patil further sought a clear policy decision and a roadmap for restoring appropriate safeguards governing the purchase and holding of agricultural land, along with necessary legislative measures, in keeping with the Congress' 2023 election manifesto commitment.

"Considering the scale of the issue and its long-term consequences for Karnataka's agricultural sector," Patil urged Gandhi to give the matter his personal attention and initiate appropriate action at the earliest.

The Karnataka government had earlier repealed provisions including Sections 79A, 79B and 79C of the Karnataka Land Reforms Act, thereby removing restrictions that had governed the purchase of agricultural land by certain categories of persons.