Gloves are off: Mayawati slams Rahuls angry drama

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.

Protests picked up pace across Uttar Pradesh today in the wake of Rahuls move,with many opposition leaders vying to make their way to Bhatta Parsaul put under arrest by the state administration.

The Chief Minister reminded that while UP had its own policy for land acquisition,the Centre was yet to enact a law for the same. She had written several letters to the Centre on the same,she said. Both the Congress and BJP have ruled at the Centre. But they failed to introduce a new law for land acquisition. Consequently,law and order problems arise in various parts of the country.

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

I want to clarify it again that both the projects Yamuna Expressway and Ganga Expressway have nothing to do with land acquisition at the village. It was the Greater Noida Authority which had acquired land for its masterplan. The process for land acquisition ended in 2009-10.

She pointed out that the May 7 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 the employees released was attacked. Then my government ensured strict action against such elements. There was no issue of land involved in the incidents.

Saying that the Oppositions game plan had been exposed from the way they had linked the violence with the land acquisition,Mayawati warned them 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.

If the Opposition really wished well of the farmers,Mayawati argued,it should put pressure on the Centre for a land acquisition law.

The Congress drama at Bhatta Parsaul yesterday was only an attempt to get released anti-social elements,she added,saying the party didnt 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 Congresss concern for farmers further,Mayawati said the partys government at the Centre had even failed to give proper compensation to farmers who had lost their land because of the railway coach factory at Rae Bareli. Farmers had stopped Sonia Gandhis carcade at Rae Bareli yesterday to communicate their grievances,she claimed.

As is the practice with all Mayawati press conferences,the Chief Minister refused to take any questions from the media except one. In answer to that,she denied her government had benefited a particular business house.