Farmers protest, raise slogans against Rahul Gandhi

Amethi (Uttar Pradesh) [India], Dec 13 (ANI): Farmers staged a protest and raised slogans against Congress president-elect Rahul Gandhi in his home turf Amethi in Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday.

The protesting farmers demanded that either their land that was given to Rajiv Gandhi Foundation is returned or else they are provided employment.

They said if their demands were not fulfilled they would demolish the structure built there and continue to protest.

The farmers were carrying a banner stating: 'Shame on you Rahul, return the lands of farmers'.

They staged the protest near Samrat Cycle factory, which was inaugurated by former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi when he was the MP from Amethi.

In the 1980s, Jain brothers had taken over 65.57 acres of land in the industrial area of Kausar to run a company but after its failure a land auction took place in 2014.

According to the records, UPSIDC had leased 65.57 acres of land to the company in 1986 but when the company was closed down, the Debts Recovery Tribunal got it auctioned in 2014 at Rs 20.10 crore to recover the loan.

The land purchased in the auction was paid by the Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust for a stamp duty of Rs 1,50,000.

However, later the land auction process was termed invalid by the UPSIDC following which a Gauriganj SDM Court ordered the return of the land of the Samrat Cycle Factory to UPSIDC.

Since then the land is on papers with UPSIDC but is still occupied by the Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust.

The farmers have not received any compensation for their land which was used for this factory till now.

Earlier, Union Minister Smriti Irani had also accused Rahul of grabbing the land of farmers through the foundation.

The Congress scion has, however, always pitched for farmers' welfare and even promised to waive their loan in his election speeches. (ANI)