Greater Noida, July 31 (IANS) Farmers in Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati’s hometown Badalpur were being paid compensation for their land to be acquired for a recreation centre even as the opposition Congress launched an agitation, a farmer leader alleged Wednesday. Greater Noida officers paid Rs.330 million to 85 farmers as compensation Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, farmers’ struggle committee chairman Jagvir Singh said.

On Tuesday, as they attempted to conduct a public meeting in Badalpur, Congress leaders Digvijay Singh, Rita Bahuguna Joshi and Sachin Pilot were arrested at the Uttar Pradesh gate in Ghaziabad.

As the high drama was on at the inter-state border and Mayawati was busy condemning the Congress in a press conference in state capital Lucknow, officers worked at wooing the farmers to accept the compensation and even set up a camp office in Badalpur, added the farmer leader.

Uttar Pradesh Congress president Rita Bahuguna Joshi has said the Greater Noida authority was acquiring land in Badalpur village at a rate six times less than the market price.

The authority is developing a world-class recreation centre in and around Mayawati’s mansion at her village.