Mayawati government’s efforts to resolve the farmers’ stir over hike in compensation for land acquired for a township along Taj Expressway suffered a set back on Wednesday with a hardline section of the agitators rejecting the enhanced land rate of Rs 570 per sq. metre offered by it.
The hardline faction of the farmers continued its protest in violence-hit Jikarpur village by staging a sit-in, administration officials said here.
They said the hardliners appear to have taken control of the agitation after the release on bail on Tuesday of farmer leader Ram Babu Kathelia who had been leading the stir.
Following the offer by the state government to increase the compensation rate from Rs 449 to Rs 570, Mr Kathelia had on Tuesday formed a 25-member committee to work out a compromise after a “mahapanchayat” failed to arrive at a consensus on whether to accept the deal or not. However, Mr Kathelia failed to pacify the hardline section and left the venue of the protest at Jikarpur late Tuesday evening.
Snubbing the hardliners, Mr Kathelia on Wednesday said, “We don’t support those who, after compromise, are continuing with the agitation in Jikarpur village.” District officials said the administration was willing to “return the land to those farmers who are not willing to part with it”.
Acting superintendent of police Maan Singh Chauhan said the situation in all the troubled areas of the district remained peaceful.
The police in Agra, which had witnessed violence, said tension prevailed in Chaugaan village in Etmadpur sub-division where agitating farmers threatened to intensify their stir if the state government failed to increase the compensation for them.
They also wanted withdrawal of cases against their leaders while asking politicians from staying away from their agitation.
“The area of Naujeelh block of Mathura which had witnessed violence on Sunday is peaceful,” additional district magistrate Kailash Chand, who is camping in Naujheel block, said.
Addressing a rally in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Rita Bahuguna Joshi attacked the Mayawati government for acquiring land of farmers for building a township. Meanwhile, senior officials of the Aligarh division, including the district magistrate, have been summoned to Lucknow for a meeting with top state government functionaries. —PTI