Thaindian News

Bajna (Mathura), July 8 (IANS) Continuing with his march against the Mayawati government’s land acquisition, Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi Friday assured farmers that the central government would introduce a farmer-friendly land acquisition bill in parliament.

Speaking to farmers on the fourth day of his padyatra through villages along the Yamuna Expressway to Aligarh in western Uttar Pradesh, Gandhi told farmers: “Although the union government is being run by coalition partners and different states have different kinds of problems, the proposed land acquisition bill finally passed would be farmer friendly.”

On Friday he visited three villages falling under Aligarh district - Ghangholi, Kharora and Chandpur - and the same number falling under Mathura district - Katalia, Bajna and Morki. He is to address a mega rally of farmers in Aligarh Saturday.

While hearing the grievances of farmers, Gandhi said: “We have a coalition government at the centre in Delhi. There are a number of partners. We have to hold discussions with them; we are talking to our partners. We will bring a pro-farmers’ bill; we are trying our best to pass it in the next session of the Lok Sabha.”

The Congress leader said the National Advisory Council (NAC) and the government were both discussing the law.

Talking to the farmers he said, “It takes time to make a new law and the union government is working on it. If we make the law in haste, it will be wrong. We wish to make a new law which can last for at least next 30 to 40 years if not half of the century.”

“We have to find a solution to land acquisition and we can find that through dialogue alone. Don’t suppress people and their voices - what the UP government did while acquiring their land forcibly in Greater Noida. You need to involve people, if you don’t involve the poor, it amounts to atrocities on them.”

Asked why the centre did not stop the Mayawati government from “forcibly” taking over their lands, Gandhi said, “You have to understand one thing straight, the Congress does not run the UP government. We cannot help you in anyway about it.”

He went on to say that the Congress party runs the union government and “we will do our best to give you a good, new land law”.

Rahul Gandhi, who has been targeting Chief Minister Mayawati, accused her government of not properly utilizing central funds earmarked for various schemes.

“The state government’s intention here does not seem to be good. It seems the state wishes to help only one person - the builders, not the farmers.”

He, however, said, “If the Congress government comes to power in UP, it will be your government. It will not be the Congress government but the government of the people of Uttar Pradesh.”.