In the run up to the general elections Congress president Sonia Gandhi made her first political appearance in western Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday, slamming the Mayawati government over the land acquisition issue.
Addressing a Kisan-Mazdoor rally in Dadri on Tuesday, where the farmers in adjoining villages are demanding better compensation for their land acquired for IT parks and SEZs, Sonia Gandhi said: “Governments should listen to the farmer. The answers to their agitation should not be lathis.” Sonia Gandhi was referring to the use of police force on farmers demanding better package for their land in Greater Noida.
“The Congress is not against land acquisition but it should be transparent,” Gandhi said. In an oblique reference to the Singur agitation, Sonia said that other places are also witnessing farmer unrest.
‘Don’t politicise blasts’
Stating that territorial integrity would be the first priority of the UPA government, the Congress Chief lashed out at the BJP-led opposition and asked them not to politicise the serial blasts.
“We would not bow down before terrorism and would tackle it with full strength. But we have to keep it above politics,” she said.
N-deal and after
Defending the Indo-US N-deal, gandhi said, “Power failure and lack of water are affecting both agriculture and industry in the state. That is why our Prime Minster came out with the deal which will help increase our power production and thereby the growth of farming and industry. It would also provide more jobs for the youth.”