Cong rally in Maya village today

Accusing Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati of trying to acquire farmers’ land in and around her native village Badalpur to create a “picnic spot” and make it a “tourist destination”, the Congress will organise a Kisan Sangharsh rally at the village on July 29 in protest against the “coercive” acquisition of land belonging to thousands of farmers.

AICC general secretary in charge of the state Digvijay Singh, UP PCC chief Rita Bahuguna Joshi, Congress MP Sachin Pilot and office-bearers of the Gautambudhnagar District Congress Committee will address the rally, according to a press release issued by the AICC here on Monday.

“The affected villagers had set up a Sangharsh Samiti to fight for their cause. We are going to support them. The proposed acquisition will affect 2,400 families. The villagers are primarily against the acquisition of land; they should at least be paid at market price,” Digvijay Singh told reporters.

AICC spokesperson Manish Tewari said at a press briefing that the UP Chief Minister had built a “palatial house” in Badalpur over an area of 47 bighas. On June 30 notices for land acquisition were issued to acquire 230 hectares of land in Badalpur and 142 hectares in Saadulpur adjacent to it.