PMK to stage demonstration on July 9 The Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) has urged the government to give up the move to acquire agricultural land for establishing an industrial cluster at Arakkonam. In a statement here on Sunday, the party founder, S. Ramadoss, pointed to the reports in circulation that the government was planning to acquire agricultural lands to establish SIPCOT (State Industries Promotion Corporation) in Arakkonam, Vellore district. The party would hold a demonstration on July 9 at Arakkonam against the move, he said. Dr. Ramadoss alleged that the government also proposed to acquire vast agricultural land measuring around 16,400 acres in six districts to establish industrial clusters. Chief Minister Jayalalithaa had announced that a new land acquisition law would be enacted to protect the rights of the farmers but it had not been implemented yet. The AIDMK regime’s attempt to acquire the land for “rock bottom prices” to hand over it to the multinational companies would go against the mandate of the electorate. The PMK’s state executive committee meeting would be held in Chennai on June 26 to discuss the growth of party and to take decision on various crucial issues, according to G.K. Mani, party president. The idea is to establish an industrial cluster at Arakkonam