Friday, 20 May 2011

What They Said: Rahul Gandhi Sides With UP Farmers

The farmers' protest in Bhatta Parsaul near Greater Noida in Uttar Pradesh gained even more momentum after Rahul Gandhi, the general secretary of the Congress party, extended his full support to the farmers and heavily criticized Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati's administration. Mr. Gandhi, who snuck into Bhatta Parsaul village to meet with the farmers on May 11, was arrested by the Meerut Range police in a late night drama. He was released after two-and-a-half hours in custody, but a political storm followed as Mr. Gandhi accused state police officials of committing brutal acts of violence against the farmers. Congress backtracked from his statements the next day.

Here is a selection of editorials, commentaries and opinions from Indian newspapers.

Parivartan Sharma/Reuters
Rahul Gandhi, the general secretary of the Congress party, extended his full support to the UP farmers.

An editorial published in the Times of India Thursday highlighted loopholes in the archaic Land acquisition Act, 1894, and how it has been exploited by politicians all over the country to gain voters' support. "Rahul Gandhi's accusations of mass murder and rape in UP appear to have been exaggerated, with pending assembly elections in the state accounting for the shrill pitch." The editorial went on to say that the charges of police atrocities aga [...]



No comments:

Post a Comment