Bajna (UP): Senior Congress leader Rahul
Gandhi on Friday wound up his four-day foot march through the
dusty heartlands of rural Uttar Pradesh here and returned to
Delhi.
Describing the padayatra as an unforgettable experience
that has enlightened him of the farmers problems, the Gandhi
scion told farmers of the BSP-ruled state, "I have learnt a
lot after talking to you. I am young and from you I have
gained a world of knowledge on land acquisition issues...I can
never forget all this all my lifetime and the fact that I am
taking back so much from you."
"You have the same knowledge as those sitting in the
Planning Commission and those making the laws...What I have
acquired from you here, I could never have acquired sitting in
Delhi," he said.
The foot march, flagged off from Bhatta on Tuesday, saw
the Congress leader spanning over 70 km in hot and sultry
weather conditions.
"The yatra was a mass awakening call for the farmers...I
have already achieved what I set out to achieve. I am more
than pleased. I wanted to bring this matter on the national
radar and help farmers voice their concerns. I have done
that," Gandhi said.
While interacting with Gandhi during the foot march, the
farmers demanded adequate compensation for their land, jobs in
lieu of acquired lands, enhanced compensation for fertile land
and compensation in lieu of tubewells that get acquired along
with swathes of land.
The AICC general secretary will visit Aligarh tomorrow to
address a farmer mahapanchayat.
PTI
