Bhatta Parsaul is just the beginning: Rahul Gandhi warns Mayawati

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 the 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 are people fleeing? If everything is alright, why is a judicial probe not being ordered? Free and fair inquiry is the need of the hour to fix responsibility", Gandhi said.

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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 the ruling Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), which says that he lacked issues, Rahul said that he had a lot of issues and time and would reach all the villages of the state to fight with the common man.

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"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, the Congress came out in his defence saying he only repeated what the villagers told him.

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"Whatever has come in the media is 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 diameter was there in which bones were found," Congress General Secretary Janardan Dwivedi told reporters in New Delhi. (Watch and Read: Rahul misquoted, says Congress)

Speaking on the clashes in Greater Noida, Gandhi said that he went to the affected villages but only found women there as the majority of the men had fled due to fear.

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Taking potshots at the BSP government, he said the state administration was not ready to accept problems in Bundelkhand despite the fact that the condition of the people there was miserable.

"What is the state government doing? Bundelkhand is seeking help but the state government is not doing anything. I went to the Prime Minister and did whatever I can. But the money sent from Centre is not utilised here", Gandhi said.

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"I recently went there (Bundelkhand) where the condition of the roads was not good, farmers were not getting their due in mandi (market)", he said asking partymen to gear up for the decisive battle.