Rahul challenges Maya; pledges to fight for farmers' cause

VARANASI: Unfazed by the attack on his claims on the alleged police brutality in the villages of Greater Noida, Rahul Gandhi today appeared to justify those remarks saying people there had complained to him about the atrocities they were subjected to.

Declaring a war against Mayawati government, he said Congress would go to every village of the state and fight for ousting the government.

He also demanded a judicial inquiry into the violence in Bhatta-Parsaul villages he visited last week to empathise with the farmers agitating against land acquisition.

"Locals said that they were ready to give land. Women and poor farmers in the village told me, see what is happening to us. Why our houses are being burnt? Why are we beaten up? These questions are being asked," he said addressing a two-day convention of the party here.

"The Uttar Pradesh government says all is well in Bhatta Parsaul. Then why Section 144 (prohibitory orders) has been imposed there. If everything is alright, why people are fleeing? If everything is alright, why a judicial probe is not being ordered? Free and fair inquiry is the need of the hour to fix responsibility", Gandhi said.

Rahul's remarks come in the wake of media reports quoting villagers in Bhatta-Parsaul about the alleged police atrocities but disclaiming knowledge of rape of women and burning of farmers.

Challenging BSP, which says that he lacked issues, Rahul said that he had a lot of issues and time and would reach all the village of the state to fight with common man.

"I will reach every corner of the state and fight with you holding your hands. We will fight them (UP government) in every village and we will throw them out," Gandhi said adding it was not a fight for elections.

While Gandhi himself remained silent on the veracity of the allegations he made after meeting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday, Congress party came out in his defence saying he only repeated what the villagers told him.

"Whatever has come in media in unfortunate. Nowhere did he (Gandhi) mention the number of 74 or 74 bodies. Rahul Gandhi had only said that at one place an ash heap of 70 foot area was there in which bones were found," Congress General Secretary Janardan Dwivedi Dwivedi told reporters in New Delhi.