Aligarh:
In an apparent show of solidarity, Rahul Gandhi on Saturday met the agitating farmers in Aligarh who have been demanding higher compensation for their land acquired by the UP government and reached out to families of those who were injured or lost their lives in clashes with police.
Taking authorities by surprise, the Congress general secretary drove to Jikarpur village, the epicentre of the farmers' stir, at about 5 pm.
"He asked the farmers to maintain unity which he said would help them get justice," the chief of the state party unit's media, Akhilesh Pratap Singh, said adding that Rahul Gandhi assured the agitating farmers of full solidarity.
Rahul visited the house of a farmer, who suffered bullet injuries, and also met the family of a 12-year-old-boy who died in clashes with police on August 14.
The 40-year-old Congress leader gave a patient hearing to farmers who have been seeking the same compensation as provided in Noida for the land acquired for the Yamuna Expressway project.
Earlier on Saturday afternoon, expelled Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh had addressed the protesting farmers. Most of the agitating farmers had dispersed for the night when Rahul Gandhi suddenly arrived, officials said.
Local authorities said they had no prior information about his visit.
"We had no inkling regarding Mr. Gandhi's visit... there was no question of any security procedures which normally precede a visit by a VVIP," Divisional Commissioner Rajiv Agarwal said.
Addressing the agitating farmers on Friday, AICC General Secretary Digvijay Singh had assured them that both Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi were strongly in favour of meting out justice to farmers.