A day after Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi’s motorcycle ride into Bhatta-Parsaul village in Gautam Budh Nagar in support of agitating farmers, senior BJP leaders, led by its former party chief Rajnath Singh and Leader of Opposition Arun Jaitley, put up a show of strength on the issue.
As Singh announced a 24-hour fast in support of farmers, he was arrested along with Jaitley and Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi. Singh demanded UP CM Mayawati should step down and the state government stop acquiring land until the Land Acquisition Amendment Bill is passed by Parliament.
Singh said he had no complaints against Gandhi or AICC general secretary Digvijaya Singh for staging a dharna in support of farmers but he would ask them to stage similar protests instead of doing drama in places where the Centre or the Congress-ruled governments have acquired lands without adequate compensation for farmers.
Jaitley said the BSP and the SP always acted like insurance policies for the UPA government and supported it whenever it faced trouble.
But taking a view contrary to that of his party, BJP leader LK Advani appeared to appreciate Gandhi's role in the on-going farmer agitation. Asked if he felt the Congress and BSP were hand-in-glove as Gandhi was allowed to reach Bhatta Parsaul village, Advani said, "Whoever is supporting the cause of farmers is doing a good deed."
{{/usCountry}}But taking a view contrary to that of his party, BJP leader LK Advani appeared to appreciate Gandhi's role in the on-going farmer agitation. Asked if he felt the Congress and BSP were hand-in-glove as Gandhi was allowed to reach Bhatta Parsaul village, Advani said, "Whoever is supporting the cause of farmers is doing a good deed."
{{/usCountry}}But, BJP leaders said they would observe fast and party cadres would “expose Gandhi’s motorcycle stunt”.
“There is a tacit understanding between the BSP and the Congress. The BSP government lifted section 144 to facilitate Gandhi’s entry and the Congress has returned the favour by not initiating the disproportionate assets case against Mayawati,” said BJP vice-president Vinay Katiyar.
SP leader Akhilesh Yadav said: “It is nice that they are taking interest in farmers’ issues, but why did the Central government not bring in the Land Acquisition Amendment Bill as promised.”