Gloves are off: Mayawati slams Rahul’s ‘angry drama’

Under attack from rivals over land acquisition in UP,Chief Minister Mayawati today took on Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi,accusing him of “dirty politics” and saying the “Yuvaraj” should first try getting a law on the issue passed at the Centre.

“Aisa prateet hota hai ki unke ghar mein inki kuch chal nahin pa rahi hai,jisse dukhi ho kar ab woh apna gussa Bhatta Parsaul gaon mein drama-baazi karke nikale (It seems his own party doesn’t listen to him,that’s why he took out his anger with all this drama),” Mayawati said,in reference to Rahul’s visit to the epicentre of the protests,Bhatta Parsaul yesterday,and refusal to move until he was arrested.

Addressing a press conference,the chief minister accused the Congress and other opposition parties of launching a “misinformation campaign” against her government over land acquisition and of “political conspiracy” to disturb law and order,including supply of weapons to those behind the unrest.

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Across UP,many opposition leaders trying to reach Bhatta Parsaul were arrested. The CM reminded the Centre that it was yet to enact a land acquisition law,while UP already had a policy. “Both the Congress and BJP have ruled at the Centre. But they failed to introduce a new law for land acquisition.”

The May 7 violence at Bhatta Parsaul had nothing to do with either land acquisition or the compensation money given to farmers,Mayawati said.

“I want to clarify again that both the projects — Yamuna Expressway and Ganga Expressway — have nothing to do with land acquisition… The process for land acquisition ended in 2009-10.”

She pointed out that the violence was preceded by the abduction of three employees of UP State Roadways Transport Corporation by villagers. “The team that went to the village to get them freed was attacked. Then my government ensured strict action against such elements.”

Mayawati warned the opposition that they would not succeed. “Whenever opposition parties have attempted to damage the image of my party or the government,it has always benefited the BSP,” she said.

The Congress “drama” at Bhatta Parsaul yesterday was only an attempt to get released “anti-social elements”,she added,saying the party didn’t seem to care as much for the farmers.

She also praised the officers and policemen for their efforts to keep the situation under control at Bhatta Parsaul despite the “risk” to their lives.

Attacking the Congress’s “concern” for farmers,Mayawati said the its government at the Centre had failed to give compensation to farmers who lost their land to the railway coach factory at Rae Bareli. As is the practice with all Mayawati press conferences,she refused to take questions bar one. In reply to that,she denied her government had benefited a particular business house.