The ruling Bahujan Samaj Party and the Congress could be heading for yet another confrontation with each other very soon. Congress MP Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to address a kisan maha panchayat in Bhatta Parsaul village on July 9.
Mr Gandhi will meet farmer leaders from all districts in this maha panchayat and take their complaints and suggestions on the issue of land acquisition and later pass them on to the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The suggestions on land acquisition offered by the farmer leaders would be considered for incorporation into the proposed Land Acquisition Act that is scheduled to be introduced in the upcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament.
The Congress, on Wednesday, sent a formal application to the district magistrate of Greater Noida seeking permission to hold the maha panchayat. The Congress has given four options for the venue of the maha panchayat. A senior official in the UP government, while speaking on condition of anonymity, said that chances of the permission being granted were “remote”. “The Rahul Gandhi maha panchayat could lead to unrest among farmers and vitiate the atmosphere across the state. It is unlikely that permission will be given for the event though the final decision will be taken by local authorities,” he said.
A senior BSP minister, on the other hand, said that Mr Rahul Gandhi would not be given another opportunity to “display his histrionics” in UP. “If he is so concerned about farmer welfare, why does he not go to Haryana and Maharashtra where the situation is rather bad?” the minister asked.