By IANS,
Lucknow: Buoyed by the “overwhelming response” to its just-concluded four-day “Kisan Yatra” in some districts of Uttar Pradesh, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Sunday announced it would hold similar marches in the state from July to protest land acquisition.
“Marches similar to the Kisan Yatra would be taken out primarily at those place where the farmers are agitating against their land acquisition,” BJP vice president Kalraj Mishra told reporters at a press conference here.
“Like Bhatta-Parsaul and villages of different districts of western Uttar Pradesh, where the Kisan Yatra was taken out, there are several villages in Allahabad, Chandauli and other districts of the state where farmers are not being given adequate compensation in lieu of their lands acquired by the state government.
“The upcoming marches would be primarily taken out in the areas where there is discontent among the farmers over the land acquisition. The party’s central leadership may also participate in the marches,” he added.
Accusing Uttar Pradesh’s ruling Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) government of ignoring farmers’ rights, Mishra said: “On the pretext of development, the state government acquires the agricultural land to benefit some industrialists.”
“The state government is just not serious about raising the living standards of the farmers,” he alleged.
BJP organised the “Kisan Yatra” June 8-11. Besides carrying out marches, farmers meets also took place during the programme.