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Lathi, bullets not the answer: Sonia

DADRI: Targeting the land acquisition policy adopted by the Mayawati government in Uttar Pradesh, United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi flagged off the “Kisan-Mazdoor Rally” organised by Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee here on Tuesday.

Criticising the State government, Ms. Gandhi vowed to support the cause of farmers in U.P. with regard to their rights for land compensation and work in their interest.

“Farmers in the State are facing problems due to obstacles created by the U.P. Government and their problems should be heard out. Use of lathi and bullets is not the answer. I am proud that the U.P. Congress workers supported the farmers and eventually forced the U.P. Government to pay compensation to the affected farmers,” she said.

“The Congress does not oppose land acquisition for industrialisation. However, the process should be just and farmers should be a partner in it as is the case in Haryana. But in U.P. several reports of atrocities committed against farmers are being heard and therefore the Congress under the UPA government has drafted a Land Acquisition Bill and I am hopeful that it will be passed by Parliament soon to end the injustice being meted out to farmers.”

Ms. Gandhi said that to promote agricultural work the Centre had also created a Rs.25 crore national fund. “The U.P. Government is also getting crores from the Centre, but despite this there is discrimination against the farmers and the schemes drafted by UPA are not benefiting them. This is very sad and unfortunate.”

Highlighting the UPA Government’s other achievements, Ms. Gandhi said, “Besides implementation of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, we have also presented a Labour Protection Bill for workers engaged in the unorganised sector. But the lack of electricity in villages had the Centre concerned and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has initiated the nuclear deal to solve the electricity crisis in the country.”

Ms. Gandhi added that the deal would help in increasing electricity production and industrial progress as well as create new employment.

Referring to recent terrorist activities gripping the nation, Ms. Gandhi said, “In today’s atmosphere of terrorism, our national duty has to be kept above politics. We have never politicised this matter and the country’s sovereignty has always been our utmost priority.”

“The Central government is well aware and alert about the situation and we are ready to tackle the challenge it poses,” she added.

Congress MP from Dausa Sachin Pilot charged the Mayawati Government with “killing farmers and spreading an atmosphere of terror.”

“There is terror among small farmers in the State who are not getting compensation and whose land is being usurped by the U.P. Government,” he said.

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