Ashamed to be an Indian, says Rahul Gandhi

Greater Noida: Bhatta Parsaul  village in Greater Noida has been the epicentre of protests for the last few days. And of politics as well.

It was around 4 am and dark when the Congress general secretary rode pillion on a motorcycle into Bhatta Parsaul today and the strong police force deployed there apparently failed to notice him. . It was only when he began meeting farmers and heard their grievances that the policemen recognised the young Congress leader, who has often slipped out of his security cordon in the past to meet people. (Read: Rahul rides mobike to visit protesting farmers)

In comments there are likely to spark off a fresh political controversy, Rahul Gandhi slammed the state government and said, "I have seen the violence unleashed on your men and women. By seeing what has happened here, I feel ashamed to be an Indian. The state government is tormenting its own people. I was travelling with the Assistant District Magistrate and he told me that it is like Naxalism has reached here." (Watch: The aam aadmi's Rahul Gandhi)

Mr Gandhi, who sat with the farmers for over 12 hours, said he associated with them as they were demanding their "right" and there was "nothing wrong" in it.

"I want to tell you that I am with you till your demands are met. Till your work is not done, the Congress party will not desert you," he said to a thunderous applause from the gathering which shouted slogans hailing him.

Earlier, an elderly woman told the AICC General Secretary how "brutally PAC men had manhandled women members of her family in the name of conducting a search" after the clashes broke out. Another elderly man showed injuries on his body allegedly inflicted by policemen with batons.

Rahul Gandhi's party collegaue Digvijay Singh, who accompanied him has demanded that till a judicial inquiry submitted a report no action should be taken against the farmers in respect of FIRs lodged against them. He also demanded that all arrested farmers be released and that there should not be any forcible land acquisition.

Bhatta Parsaul, in the suburbs of the national Capital, has turned into a political battleground for parties after four people, including two policemen, were killed in Saturday's clashes between police and farmers. The Opposition has flayed the UP government for its land acquisition policy.

Farmers in Greater Noida and adjoining areas are demanding more compensation from the Mayawati government for their land.

Farmers were paid a little over Rs 800 per square metre.  The same land was sold to developers at Rs 3200 a metre.  And those developers are now offering residential plots, for example, at more than Rs 14,000 a metre.

The Jaiprakash Group, contracted to build the highway, was given 6000 acres by the state government.  The company says that it needs to develop that land to offset the 10,000 crores it will spend on constructing the Yamuna Expressway.  There are ten other companies like Waves, Paras, 3C who have also been given the land that was acquired from farmers at fantastically low prices.

Rahul, who is the MP from Amethi in Uttar Pradesh, had last year visited Tappal Village in Aligarh district taking the local police by surprise when he went to meet farmers who had launched a protest demanding higher compensation for the land acquired by the Mayawati government for the Yamuna Expressway project.

BJP, SP slam Rahul Gandhi for visit to Bhatta Parsaul village

The BJP has slammed Rahul Gandhi for his visit to Bhatta Parsaul village. "I would like to remind you that Rahul earlier went to Tapal Gaon of Aligarh also. He had said that in the next Parliament session, the land acquisition amendment bill will be brought in. What has happened now? None of the bills have been bought to the Parliament. I want answers to all this," said BJP leader Rajnath Singh. (Watch)

The Samajwadi Party also hit out at the Congress leader. "Rahul Gandhi is sitting there on protest. Nothing will happen if he keeps sitting there. The Central government needs to take some steps and if Rahul Gandhi wants, this can be done. The Central government should compensate the farmers," said Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav.

(With PTI Inputs)