I am with you, Rahul tells farmers in UP

Gandhi scion commences campaign against 'land grabbing by Mayawati-led government', visits villages

I am with you, Rahul tells farmers in UP

Gandhi scion commences campaign against 'land grabbing by Mayawati-led government', visits villages

Ramping up pressure on the Mayawati-led government, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi yesterday took his campaign against forced land acquisition to the farmer's doorstep, walking from village to village and stressing that he was with them in their fight.

"I am listening to you, I am with you," the Congress general secretary told a gathering in this village in the Greater Noida area, about 60 km from Delhi, on day one of a five-day foot march that will transform into a farmers' march in Aligarh on July 9.u00a0

u00a0A farmer greets Rahul Gandhiu00a0during his visit to Nangla Bhatana village in Greater Noida yesterday

Accompanied by about 60 state policemen, a sniffer dog squad, fire brigade and ambulance vehicles, besides the elite Special Protection Group (SPG), the Rahul cavalcade walked 12 km from the twin villages of Bhatta Parsaul the epicentre of a farmers' agitation against land acquisition by the state government.

Rahul had begun the day early, surprising state authorities by reaching Bhatta Parsaul at 6 am despite being denied permission to hold a rally there. The venue of the rally was then shifted to Aligarh.

After interacting with villagers there, he began the foot march and reached Nangla Bhattauna by noon.
"I have come to you. I am listening to you. I am with you," Rahul told the gathering of men, women and children, described as a 'kisan panchayat' by his aides.

"I went to Bhatta Parsaul to know the truth. Sitting in Delhi, I cannot know the truth," Rahul told the gathering during his 45-minute speech there.

"Rahul Gandhi will be conducting similar kisan panchayats and understanding the feelings of the villagers en route," Iqbal Singh, a village leader, said. Several farmers spoke up at the panchayat.

Rahul met farmers in Rustampur soon after he showed up at Bhatta-Parsaul. He lashed out at the Mayawati government in the state and alleged that the police were committing excesses against people.

"I have started this yatra. I have started it from Bhatta and will go to all villages and see what is happening to ascertain your views on the new land acquisition policy of the Uttar Pradesh government," he said.

Rahul's visit to the area, a direct challenge to the Bahujan Samaj Party in Uttar Pradesh ahead of elections next year, comes about two months after he was detained in Bhatta Parsaul after the police violence in May.

The Supreme Court yesterday said that the state was the biggest land grabber, depriving farmers of their livelihood