Cong takes credit for Maya's 'climbdown' on land acquisition

Congress on Saturday tried to take credit for the better deal offered to the farmers by the Mayawati government in Uttar Pradesh saying it was achieved due to the pressure from the party and the visit of Rahul Gandhi to the state. "We welcome the decision of the UP government to give a package demanded in a memorandum to the Prime Minister," AICC General Secretary in-charge of the state Digvijay Singh told reporters in New Delhi.

Describing it as a "major climbdown", Singh said, "the pressure of Congress and the visit of Rahul Gandhi to Tappal
(epicentre of farmers' protest)" was the main reason for the development."

Singh, however, said that unlike Haryana, there were a few shortcomings in the package which should be rectified. There is no provision for the landless in the package announced," he said.

The Congress leader said that the Haryana government provides for skill development of the displaced which has not
been provided by the UP government.

He said that 2 per cent of the total project cost is spent by the Haryana government on social infrastructure
development in the township concerned, a provision which was not there in UP.

Under the new policy of UP, a farmer whose land is acquired would be paid Rs 20,000 per acre, per annum for 33
years, but he would also have the option of a one-time payment of Rs 2.40 lakh per acre as rehabilitation grant.

The annuity would be increased by Rs 600 every year and will be payable every July.