Rahul Gandhi attacks Maywati, says state being run by dalals

LUCKNOW: In one of his most stinging attacks on the Mayawati government, Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi on the third day of his foot march said that 'dalals' (touts) were running Uttar Pradesh. Stepping up his attack on Mayawati whom he had avoided commenting upon when he started his foot march on Tuesday, Rahul Gandhi said that because people were not united Uttar Pradesh was being ruled by dalals.

Addressing farmers at Kirpalpur village in Aligarh on Thursday Rahul Gandhi said that farmers land was being taken forcibly and they were given meager compensation. He told villagers that unless they united things would not change for the better for them as the state government was working not for their welfare but for the benefit of builders.

The Congress MP started the third day of his padyatra from Sarole village in Aligarh and met villagers along his route urging them to attend the kisan mahapanchayat rally in Aligarh on July 9. He had started the foot march on Tuesday from Bhatta Parsaul near Greater Noida to Agra along the Yamuna Expressway highway.

He said that farmers were willing to give land for development but wanted compensation at market rates. He said that in Haryana there was no farmers unrest on land acquisition as the policy there provided market rates for their land as well as jobs.

He told villagers that the central government would present a new Land Acquisition Bill in the coming session of the parliament which would be in the farmers interest.

He said that though Mayawati government announced a new compensation policy in UP after farmers agitations it would not benefit most farmers as it would apply with prospective effect.

Rahul Gandhi said that during his interaction with villagers many expressed the need for development and also giving up their land for acquisition but they did not want to surrender their land for the builders to make money.

He urged farmers to gather for the Maha Panchayat Rally in Aligarh on July 9, and show the state government their collective might and opinion on the states land acquisition policy.