Lucknow:
Congress workers staging demonstrations in Lucknow to show solidarity with Greater Noida farmers were lathicharged by the Uttar Pradesh police this morning.
"Several party leaders and workers were injured in the lathicharge on peaceful protesters and UPCC president Rita Bahuguna Joshi was manhandled by police," party spokesman Subodh Srivastava said.
Police later detained several party workers, including Joshi, and they were taken to the police line.
In Rae Bareli, two MLAs and MLCs along with other party workers were detained and later released after they blocked the national highway.
The party plans to carry out massive protests across the state today.
The farmers' protest against land acquisition along the Yamuna Expressway has turned into a full-blown political crisis for the Mayawati government.
Both, the country's ruling party and the main Opposition party, are protesting against the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister's land acquisition policy, raising their voices for the farmers.
On Wednesday, Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi was arrested and released by the Uttar Pradesh in much midnight drama. He and the other Congress leaders had planned to sit with the protesting farmers through the night.
The Congress will turn on the heat on Thursday, with the protests targeting Mayawati directly on what it calls her "anti-farmer policies." Land acquisition for several other projects is expected to run into rough weather as the Congress plans to flag details of compensation and the manner of acquisition.
In the twin villages of Bhatta Parsaul in Greater Noida, where it all began on Saturday with violent clashes that saw four people - including two policemen - die, Section 144 continues. There is strong police presence.
Political visits are expected to continue with reports that former Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh will be in Bhatta later in the day.(With PTI inputs)