Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi today wound up his four-day padyatra in Uttar Pradesh accusing Chief Minister Mayawati government of grabbing farmers' lands. Addressing a Kisan Mahapanchayat in Aligarh, he said Congress is not against development or making roads in Uttar Pradesh. But the land is being taken away from farmers to make golf courses, colonies and racing track. He said when they protest they were fired upon.Criticising police firing against farmers at Tappal in Aligarh and Bhatta Parsaul in Gautam Buddha Nagar he said they were just pressing their demand for better compensation and not doing anything wrong.Describing the new land acquisition policy announced my BSP government as misleading the farmers, he said it is not helping the farmers who have already lost their land. He reassured the farmers that proposed Land Acquisition Bill prepared by the centre will be in favour of them. He also alleged that welfare schemes including right to education and Mid-day meal initiated by the centre are not being implemented by state government properly.AIR correspondent reports that congress leader first listened most the farmers representatives who had come from different parts of the state to attend the Kisan Maha Panchayat.
News On AIR | July 9, 2011 8:42 PM
Centre will bring a land acquisition bill to favour farmers: Rahul