Land war: Rahul tsunami grips UP village
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Bhatta Parsaul, Uttar Pradeh: The late night arrest and subsequent release of Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi at the epicenter of the farmers’ unrest here, has transformed him into a new avatar - a farmer leader.
"A farmer leader with a genuine concern for famers," This is what Jait Singh, a resident of Bhatta Parsaul village in the Greater Noida area of Uttar Pradesh said.
Another elderly resident, Ramiqbal, said: 'Kamal Ka Chora hai' (He is an amazing lad).
Gandhi’s Robin Hood type storming of the village has witnessed a significant swell in support for the Congress in 'Jat Land', hitherto considered the vote bank of the Ajit Singh-led Rashtriya Lok Dal.
Villagers, especially youth, who left the village anticipating crackdown by the Police Armed Constabulary (PAC), are gradually returning to their homes and are now expressing confidence that at least one leader was in their midst to fight for their cause and tried his best to take away the sense of fear that has gripped the village after violent clashes between the police and the farmers.
Gandhi’s daylong visit to the village, which began in the wee hours of Wednesday, has especially captivated the youth.
Radheshyam, a youth in his early twenties, said that he spent the whole night surfing channels to know the latest about Rahul Gandhi.
When asked why he didn’t go with Rahul Gandhi, he said that his parents didn’t allow him out of the house out of fear of the police.
Scores of homes arranged batteries to watch the entire drama on television as the Mayawati Government has ordered a power cut in the village since the violence began earlier this week, and claimed at least six lives and reported many more missing.
Womenfolk are equally happy with the scion of Gandhi family, as he did not hesitate to have 'Chapati and Daal' for dinner in their homes.
Rajwati, a housewife, said the village was proud to welcome a 'future prime minister in their chaupal'. She rues the fact that he was not given a rousing welcome.
At the same time, Rajwati is confident that once the village wriggles out of this, Rahul Gandhi will be given the welcome he deserves.
Neha Sharma, the girl who was selected by womenfolk to narrate their woes and complaints to Gandhi, said that she had never in her wildest imagination thought that she would be standing face to face with him and narrating the problem of womenfolk of the areas.
"It was one of the most precious moments in my life," she said.
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