In Uttar Pradesh, hundreds of agitating farmers today continued their indefinite sit-in at violence-hit Aligarh's Jigarpur village to press for higher compensation for land acquired for a township along Taj Expressway.Officials said no untoward incident has been reported as a heavy continent of security personnel has been deployed in nearly a dozen villages along the Expressway connecting Noida to Agra. Two persons and a PAC jawan were killed and nine injured in clashes between protesters and police in Aligarh on Saturday.Senior Superintendent of Police Satindervir Singh said the roadblocks have been removed. Officials said the district administration is making efforts to end the standoff involving the farmers who today held a mahapanchayat at Jigarpur village.Opposition leaders, including former BJP president Rajnath Singh, Leader of Opposition in Uttar Pradesh assembly and SP leader Shiv Pal Singh Yadav and RLD leader Ajit Singh, addressed the mahapanchayat, where they extended support to the agitatingfarmers.U.P Congress President, Rita Bahuguna Joshi visited Aligarh jail and met the farmers.AIR Correspondent reports, after Saturday’s violent tussle in Aligarh between farmers and police the Mayawati government has been receiving sharp criticism from all quarters. Though situation is control but the anger of agitated farmers are still visiblethere . In the epicenter of this movement, the Tappal area of Aligarh,the the farmers organised a mahapanchayat today . the Panchayat was also addressed by Samajwadi Party leader Shivpal Singh Yadav, Rashtriya Lok Dal leader Ajit Singh and senior BJP leader Rajnath singh. They all supported the ongoing farmers agitation in one voice .The State Congress President Rita Bahuguna Joshi also visited Aligarh jail today and met farmers leader Rambabu Katharia . Today Samajwadi party also held state wide demonstration in district collect rate against police atrocities, and the Congress has also announced the same programme going to be held in the tomorrow. However, UP chief minister Mayawati said that role of opposition is Unfortunate.Meanwhile government has deployed 18 companies of PAC in Aligarh and Mathura.
News On AIR | August 16, 2010 8:57 PM
Farmers in UP continue their agitation