Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati on Thursday announced a new “farmer-friendly” land acquisition policy after discussing it with farmers at a “kisan panchayat” here.
The policy, in effect from Thursday itself, offers better compensation to those Bhatta Parsaul farmers who suffered property losses in the May 7 violence.
Addressing a press conference here, the CM said under new policy private players will have to directly acquire land and the government will only be a facilitator. She also added that farmers will be given 16 per cent of developed land.
The CM went on to say that despite the state’s new land acquisition policy, a national policy was also needed on the issue. “Sensing the urgency of the issue and the frequent confrontations between state governments and farmers, my government had sent several letters to the Centre asking them to formulate a national policy, but the Congress-led UPA government didn’t act. If they still do not make a policy on land acquisition, my party will gherao Parliament to protest,” she said.
Ms Mayawati charged the Congress with fuelling the agitation in Uttar Pradesh. “Only the Congress was responsible for the demonstrations by farmers,” she said. It may be recalled that the Allahabad high court had on May 30 had cancelled the 170-hectare land acquisition in Greater Noida’s Gulistanpur area. Around 100 farmers had earlier approached the court to complain that the state government had “forcefully” grabbed their land.