In yet another package designed to take the wind out of the Congress campaign on Bhatta Parsaul, UP chief minister Mayawati has announced that all those arrested in connection with the May 7 violence will be released and adequate compensation will be paid to those who had suffered loss of property. In a statement released late on
Thursday evening, the chief minister directed that 14-hour power supply will henceforth be ensured in all rural areas to facilitate agricultural operations.
She said that district officials will hold panchayats at all district headquarters on the 22nd of every month to resolve the problems of farmers. Officials found lacking will be punished, she said.
The chief minister advised the farmers to hold peaceful demonstrations in Delhi to pressurise the Centre to formulate national policy for land acquisition.
These decisions were announced after a second round of talks with the farmers.