Lakhimpur Kheri Protest Will Lead To Change Of UP Government: Congress Leader

Senior Congress leader Deepender Hooda rejected the ruling BJP's claims that it has done a lot of work for the welfare of farmers, and said that had it done good work for the farmers, they would not have to stage protests on the roads.

Senior Congress leader Deepender Singh Hooda on Monday said the farmers' agitation at Lakhimpur Kheri will usher in a change of government in Uttar Pradesh, similar to the change of guard following the Bhatta Parsaul episode a decade ago.

"I was a part of the Bhatta Parsaul movement and had taken part in the foot-march. The then BSP government had targeted farmers, totally disregarding their self-respect. Today, the same situation is prevailing. After Bhatta Parsaul, there was a change of government in Uttar Pradesh and there will be a change of government in the state now," Mr Hooda, who was detained in Sitapur while he was on his way to Lakhimpur Kheri, told PTI over the phone.

In 2011, two policemen and two farmers were killed in clashes following protests over acquisition of land in Greater Noida's Bhatta Parsaul, a Jat-dominated village that had become the epicentre of agitation against land acquisition in the country.

Back then, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had visited Bhatta Parsaul disguising his identity and riding pillion on a two-wheeler being driven by his senior party colleague Digvijay Singh as a mark of solidarity with the farmers protesting against the land acquisition taking place under the then Mayawati government in Uttar Pradesh.