Greater Noida:
Parsaul is having a tough time reconciling with its newfound fame. This is the village in Greater Noida where Rahul Gandhi parked himself on Wednesday, the images of him sharing a cup of tea with local farmers attracting hundreds of cameras and the wrath of the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Mayawati. Both were likely anticipated by the Congress leader, who arrived in the village in a rural version of Easy Rider, occupying pillion pride of place on a motorcycle. He left nearly 24 hours later in his car, after being arrested and released on bail, and escorted firmly across the border by Mayawati's officials. (Read & Watch: Rahul Gandhi arrested in Greater Noida, released on bail in midnight drama)
Mr Gandhi was drawn, he said, to this village of about 5000 concrete homes and majority wheat fields by what he describes as its farmers' one-sided battle against a government that took their land at below-market rates and then passed it on to massive commercial developers, who in turn will make a killing on the malls and other projects they're poised to set up.
A livid Mayawati today made it clear that the farmers of Parsaul have not been short-changed. Rahul Gandhi, she said, would be better off taking his fight for farmers' rights to the Central government which has yet to amend an outdated Land Acquisition Act. The problem, she ventured, is that the Centre doesn't listen to him. (Read & Watch: Nobody seems to listen to Rahul at Centre, says Mayawati)
Mr Gandhi's charm as experienced firsthand by Parsaul notwithstanding, Mayawati's words resonate with some. A man riding a buggy says, "He could also help change the law on land acquisition at the Centre. Why doesn't he?''
Harminder Devi breaks down in her small house when we ask her if she has always lived alone. ''My sons and two daughters have run away. What will I do?'' she asks. It is a fear that echoes across the farms. Since the weekend, when farmers and policemen exchanged fire, four people have died. The village was cordoned off. Worried about retaliation from local administration officials and angry policemen, many have left their homes overnight.
Neeraj, in his 30s, played host to Mr Gandhi for four hours at his home. ''We are very anxious. Now that he has gone, the administration will trouble us even more,'' he worries.
Some in Parsaul may long for the anonymity that has evaporated into the blistering, cloudless sky, but with UP scheduled to vote next year, it's like that for a while, at least, the village will remain a political favourite.
Mr Gandhi was drawn, he said, to this village of about 5000 concrete homes and majority wheat fields by what he describes as its farmers' one-sided battle against a government that took their land at below-market rates and then passed it on to massive commercial developers, who in turn will make a killing on the malls and other projects they're poised to set up.
A livid Mayawati today made it clear that the farmers of Parsaul have not been short-changed. Rahul Gandhi, she said, would be better off taking his fight for farmers' rights to the Central government which has yet to amend an outdated Land Acquisition Act. The problem, she ventured, is that the Centre doesn't listen to him. (Read & Watch: Nobody seems to listen to Rahul at Centre, says Mayawati)
Mr Gandhi's charm as experienced firsthand by Parsaul notwithstanding, Mayawati's words resonate with some. A man riding a buggy says, "He could also help change the law on land acquisition at the Centre. Why doesn't he?''
Harminder Devi breaks down in her small house when we ask her if she has always lived alone. ''My sons and two daughters have run away. What will I do?'' she asks. It is a fear that echoes across the farms. Since the weekend, when farmers and policemen exchanged fire, four people have died. The village was cordoned off. Worried about retaliation from local administration officials and angry policemen, many have left their homes overnight.
Neeraj, in his 30s, played host to Mr Gandhi for four hours at his home. ''We are very anxious. Now that he has gone, the administration will trouble us even more,'' he worries.
Some in Parsaul may long for the anonymity that has evaporated into the blistering, cloudless sky, but with UP scheduled to vote next year, it's like that for a while, at least, the village will remain a political favourite.
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