As Rahul walks, farmers talk-The government bought land from us at the rate of Rs 800 per square yard n sold it 2 builders at Rs 45,000 per squareyard

As Rahul walks, farmers talk/ Rahul's 'kisan mahapanchayat' to be in Aligarh

Ashutosh Bhardwaj

Along the Yamuna Expressway from Greater Noida to Aligarh, the route of AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi’s Kisan Sangharsh Yatra, farmers express their anger at Chief Minister Mayawati for shortchanging them in land deals.

“The government bought land from us at the rate of Rs 800 per square yard and sold it to builders at Rs 45,000 per square yard,” says Manoj Kumar Singh, a resident of Alvalpur overlooking the expressway.

“I sold my land at Rs 15 lakh per acre but later came to know that the builder is selling 160 sq yard at Rs 15 lakh. This is cheating. The government is earning huge margins,” says Manbir Singh of Tappal that saw violent protests by farmers last year.

Farmers are annoyed not because their land was acquired but because they do not know the details of the deal struck between the UP government and realtors. “A day after we sell land, an advertisement comes up in newspapers saying the land we sold at Rs 800 per sq m is being sold at Rs 65,000 per sq m,” says Manoj Talan of Panditon Ka Nagla, who sold his land at Rs 3.6 lakh per bigha.

This is the sentiment Rahul is trying to encash on during his padayatra ahead of the 2012 Assembly polls. At each meeting, he has only one question: What about your land?

Farmers also complain of forcible acquisition. “They forced us to sell land for the expressway three years ago. They forcefully took the thumb impression of my father,” says Surajpal Singh of Saraul, Aligarh. “The government threatened us that if we do not sell land, we will lose our jobs. The SDM forced us to sign papers,” says Moti Ram who sold 7.5 bigha three years ago at Rs 3.10 lakh per bigha.

Curiously, rates are not fixed and, according to farmers, it depends on the diktat of the government. “Land from Aligarh to Bulandshahr is acquired at Rs 3 lakh to 9 lakh. Neighbouring land in Greater Noida has cost difference of up to Rs 3 lakh,” says Moti Ram.

The new policy, wherein the government will act as a facilitator between farmers and realtors, is yet to be implemented, say farmers.

Rahul listens and promises action. He tries to stick to the land issue but people have other problems as well — caste related issues and complaints of a corrupt administration.

On the second day, Rahul began his padayatra from Rampur Bangar village, where he stayed with Kalicharan Sharma Tuesday night. His first halt was at Sabota, at around 7:30 am. His afternoon siesta was at Ramveer Sharma’s home in Alavalpur village. Later, he visited Panditon Ka Nagla.