Oppn playing politics: BSP

The BJP,which is struggling hard to revive itself in the politically-significant UP,is planning to grab the opportunity. Party leaders said they planned to raise the issue and disrupt Parliament on Tuesday as well. Deputy Leader of the BJP in the Lok Sabha Gopinath Munde said the BJP fully supports the farmers’ agitation,which took a violent turn over the weekend leading to three deaths in police firing. The BJP,he said,supported land acquisiton only for projects relating to public utility. “There again,we want those displaced be given compensation at market rates,” he said.

On the other hand,Mulayam sought dismissal of the Mayawati government claiming that it was the only solution to the problem. RLD MP Jayant Chaudhary too made a similar demand.

In Lucknow,the Congress announced plans to organise a Maha Kisan Rally,to be led by senior party leaders including Digvijay Singh,on August 23 to show solidarity with the protesters. The party also announced state-wide protests against the police firing and low compensation.

The protest is being led by Ram Babu Katelia,a state Congress general secretary. So far,Katelia’s participation in the agitation was viewed by the party as involvement in “his personal capacity”. However,with other parties coming out in support of the protesters,state Congress chief Rita Bahuguna Joshi visited Aligarh on Monday and met the victims’ families. She also met Katelia in Aligarh jail and assured him the party’s support.

The BSP,meanwhile,countered the Congress,SP and BJP members both inside and outside Parliament. “There should not be any politics over dead bodies. The Congress has joined hands with the BJP and SP in playing politics over bodies of dead farmers,” senior BSP leader Satish Chandra Mishra said. He said there was a procedure for giving compensation for land acquisition which cannot be violated.

Houses adjourned over stir
New Delhi: Making a common cause against UP Chief Minister Mayawati over farmers’ protest in Aligarh,members belonging to the Congress,BJP,SP,JD(U) and RLD stalled proceedings in both Houses leading to their adjournment for the day. While the Lok Sabha failed to transact any substantive business,the Rajya Sabha took up Question Hour,followed by two adjournments in quick succession. Trouble erupted in the Lok Sabha at the outset. Members belonging to the BJP,including Rajnath Singh,and SP rushed to the well. The BSP members,led by Dara Singh Chauhan,tried to counter them. When the House assembled again after adjournment,the members resumed their protest.