Rajya Sabha MP Tyagi detained in Ghaziabad on way to meet fasting farmers in Mandola

Uttar Pradesh Housing Board had acquired farmers’ lands in Mandola for its housing scheme.

A group of politicians led by Rajya Sabha member KC Tyagi on Sunday were detained by the police on their way to meet the disgruntled farmers of Mandola village.

Rajya Sabha MP KC Tyagi and others were detained by Ghaziabad police while they proceeded to Mandola village, where the farmers have started an agitation demanding land compensation hike.(Sakib Ali/ HT Photo)

Uttar Pradesh Housing Board had acquired farmers’ lands for its Mandola scheme in Ghaziabad. The village is currently in the limelight as the farmers have restarted their demand seeking hiked land compensation and have launched an indefinite fast from Sunday.

Tyagi was detained near the Delhi border and brought to the Harsaon police lines on Sunday afternoon, but said that a delegation of Parliamentarians will soon head to Mandola.

He said that he is already in talks with Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, Rashtriya Lok Dal chief Ajit Singh, Sharad Yadav of Janata Dal (United) and CPI (M) leader Sitaram Yechuri over the issue of Mandola farmers.

“The farmers want hiked compensation as per the new Act. The state government and the district administration have shown a stepmotherly treatment. During the recent agitation, the farmers, including women, were beaten up by the police and denied them medical examination. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) assumed power in UP highlighting the issues of farmers, but their conduct is not appreciated in Mandola,” Tyagi said.

“There have been nearly a 45% increase in farmer suicides in the last three years and a payment of Rs 2,335 crore to sugarcane farmers in UP is still pending. We still appeal to the state government and the district administration to look into the demands made by Mandola farmers. Otherwise, a major agitation will be launched and the state government will have to take the responsibility,” he said.

Ahead of Tyagi’s visit, the district magistrate on Saturday had promulgated prohibitory orders. During earlier meetings with farmers, the district administration has clarified that the issue of compensation hike can only be directed by the Supreme Court as the petitions of the farmers were already dismissed by the Allahabad high court.

Ghaziabad police detained Tyagi along with nearly 100 supporters and politicians who sympathised with the farmers in their bid to demand a hike in land compensation.

The Mandola Housing Scheme, estimated to construct nearly 12,000 affordable housing units, is under construction in Loni near Delhi border. The project, pegged at Rs 3,000 crore, is already facing delays. According to UP Housing Board officials, only 4,000 flats got occupied till now; another 4,000 were being constructed and bookings were reduced due to unjustified demands by the farmers. The board is in possession of nearly 2,300 acres of land, out of the total 2,610 acres planned for the scheme. For the land it acquired, it has paid a compensation at the rate of Rs 1,100 per square metre.

“We detained the Rajya Sabha member and others near Sonia Vihar border. They were trying to proceed to Mandola, but prohibitory orders are already clamped. They were later taken to police lines and detained. In case the farmers want more compensation, they must move Supreme Court. They have disrupted construction activities and are causing delay to the project,” said Gynendra Singh, additional district magistrate.