Greater Noida farmers’ protests: BJP’s Rajnath Singh arrested

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, May 9:  Greater Noida and other areas along the Yamuna Expressway project, stretching from parts of Aligarh to Agra, continue to be tense in the aftermath of the violence over the last two days as farmers continue to protest the land acquisition policy in relation to the project.

There is more tension as leaders from various parties continue to head for the affected area.

BJP leader Rajnath Singh, who was on his way to Greater Noida to meet the protesting farmers, has been arrested while trying to enter the epicentre village. Police presence is very heavy in all these areas; no violence has been reported till now today.

Meanwhile, the brother of Samajwadi Party leader Shivpal Yadav has been detained while he was on his way to Noida.

The BJP is observing "black day" in Uttar Pradesh today to protest the police crackdown on farmers in Greater Noida. The party demanded that immediate talks be held with the agitating farmers to address their genuine grievances.

"Black day would be observed at all district headquarters from Greater Noida to Agra to protest against use of brutal force by State Government to suppress the agitation and against its dictatorial approach and anti-farmer policies," state BJP chief Surya Pratap Shahi said in a statement.

"BJP urges the state government to immediately hold talks with farmers and address their genuine grievances, provide compensation to the kith and kin of farmers killed in police action and hold a magisterial inquiry into use of force against peacefully agitating farmers," Shahi said.

Earlier on Sunday, a delegation led by BJP President Nitin Gadkari, met the farmers injured in police action at a Noida hospital.

The Mayawati government had, however, accused the Opposition of fanning the farmers’ agitation in the state.

The anger over land acquisition spread in wider regions on Sunday after the violence claimed four people on the outskirts of Delhi.