Greater Noida agitation not related to Yamuna Expressway: Mayawati

The Uttar Pradesh government today reiterated that the farmers’ agitation in Greater Noida had no connection with land acquisition for Yamuna Expressway project or compensation rates.

Chief Minister Mayawati said the issue had been fanned by her political opponents to score points before the assembly poll due next year.

The land in Bhatta-Parsaul villages had been acquired during 2009-2010 under the Greater Noida Master Plan and not for expressway, she said addressing a packed news conference here this afternoon.

“It has been wrongly suggested and projected by opposition parties that the state had acquired the land and transferred it for Yamuna Expressway,” she noted saying the farmers had been paid full compensation and they were satisfied.

 

She said her government would not accede to any illegal demands being made over Greater Noida matter.

“The face-off in Greater Noida was orchestrated by our political opponents with the help of anti-social elements to disturb peace and public order,” she underscored. Training her guns on the United Progressive Alliance (UPA), Mayawati said the state government had urged the Centre on many occasions to legislate a new Land Acquisition Act for the benefit of farmers, but in vain.

“UP and other states have also been facing confrontational situations over land acquisition matters,” she added.

The two Greater Noida villages in Gautam Budh Nagar district of UP are the epicentre of farmers’ agitation since January with land owners demanding better compensation for their land.

The situation went out of hand on Saturday, when armed clashes between farmers and police claimed four lives, including two cops. District Magistrate Deepak Aggarwal also sustained bullet wound on leg.

While, UP clamped prohibitory orders there restraining the entry of senior politicians, including Rajnath Singh, Sharad Yadav, Ajit Singh and Shivpal Singh Yadav, Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi managed to sneak in yesterday early morning.

He sat on dharna with the farmers, but was arrested late last night under charges of security threat, but later let off.

Meanwhile, Mayawati clarified that her government would not allow ‘anyone’ to vitiate the law and order situation in UP. She rubbished Rahul Gandhi’s dharna as theatrics and drama for vested political interests.