New Delhi: Against the backdrop of Rahul
Gandhi expressing solidarity with the agitating farmers in
Uttar Pradesh on the issue of hike in land acquisition rate,
an AICC meeting was held to chalk out a strategy for the
future course of action to deal with the issue.
AICC General Secretary in-charge of Uttar Pradesh,
Digvijay Singh held parleys with about a dozen farmers of
Aligarh and local leaders but refused to give details on the
party's course of action.
Talking to reporters after the meeting, Singh said he
would apprise Congress President Sonia Gandhi about their
demands.
In the meeting with Singh, the farmers are understood to
asked for a land acquisition policy similar to that of Haryana
(which includes incentives like a 30 year payment period to
the farmer for his acquired land among others), fixing of same
rate of land for township and road and amendment in the land
acquisition rate Act.
Singh refused to answer queries on what would be the
party's position on the proposed demonstration of the farmers
in front of the Parliament House on August 26.
Rahul Gandhi made a surprise visit to Jikarpur village,
the epicentre of the farmers' stir, on August 21. He gave a
patient hearing to farmers who have been seeking the same
compensation as provided in Noida for the land acquired for
the Yamuna Expressway project.
Addressing the agitating farmers earlier, Digvijay Singh
had assured them that both the Congress president and
Rahul were strongly in favour of justice to them.
The leaders of the agitation have rejected the Mayawati
government's package and decided to 'gherao' Parliament for
amending the existing laws for acquisition of farm land.
Political observers in Aligarh were of the opinion that
Saturday's unannounced visit by Rahul Gandhi to Jikarpur
where the protest is being staged for nearly four weeks now,
has given a major fillip to the ongoing stir.
During his hour-long visit Gandhi devoted most of his
time talking to family members of those who lost their lives
or were seriously injured in the police firing on farmers on
August 14.
PTI
First Published: Monday, August 23, 2010, 22:43