BSP raises land issue, disrupts Rajya Sabha

BSP, whose government in UP is facing flak over the land procurement issue, on Monday demanded urgent introduction of the land acquisition bill in Parliament, saying further delay would be a setback for farmers.

The land battle of UP cast its shadow on the opening day of the monsoon session in the Rajya Sabha with the BSP members forcing a day-long adjournment, demanding introduction of the land acquisition bill in this session.

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Interestingly, the UPA's crisis managers had been in touch with senior BSP leader Satish Chandra Mishra in the run-up to the session. The Congress sought BSP's "co-operation" to run the monsoon session smoothly even as the two sides are engaged in a high-pitched political fight on the UP turf.

The return of the Question Hour to its original morning slot saw the first adjournment after the oath of new members and obituary references as angry BSP MPs rushed to the well of the House raising slogans.

The situation did not improve when the House re-assembled at 12 noon, and chairman Hamid Ansari directed laying of the official papers amid the din. BSP members shouted slogans such as: "We will not tolerate atrocities on farmers...bring the new land acquisition law soon."

"We will force the government to come up with the bill in this session. UP has already formulated a bill in this regard and the Centre can copy that," Mishra said.