Aligarh:
Rahul Gandhi took the Mayawati government by surprise when he visited Jikarpur village, the epicentre of the farmers' stir, on Saturday and expressed his solidarity with the agitators in Uttar Pradesh.
The AICC general Secretary met the agitating farmers who have been demanding higher compensation for their land acquired by the UP government for the Expressway project and reached out to families of those who were injured or lost their lives in clashes with police.
Taking authorities by surprise, Gandhi drove to Jikarpur village 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 expressed his solidarity with the cause of the agitating farmers.
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.
Most of the agitating farmers had dispersed for the day when Rahul 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 yesterday, AICC General Secretary Digvijay Singh had assured them that both Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Rahul were strongly in favour of meting justice to farmers.
Earlier this afternoon, expelled Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh had addressed the protesting farmers.