2011 Land acquisition protests in Uttar Pradesh (edit)
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The government of [[Uttar Pradesh]], India, has faced '''protests against its proposed enforced land acquisition''' in 2011. These protests have been centred on the | The government of [[Uttar Pradesh]], India, has faced '''protests against its proposed enforced land acquisition''' in 2011. These protests have been centred on the twin adjacent villages of '''Bhatta''' and '''Parsaul''' in [[Greater Noida]] and have resulted in sporadic incidents of violence since January of that year. In August 2010 there had been protests against the state government in [[Delhi]] and these had resulted in three deaths.<ref name="bbc20110509"/><ref name="toi20110511">{{Cite news|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-05-11/india/29531957_1_bhatta-parsaul-village-farmers-land-acquisition |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105124529/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-05-11/india/29531957_1_bhatta-parsaul-village-farmers-land-acquisition |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 November 2012 |title=Digvijay demands three-point relief for Bhatta farmers |first=Ayaskant |last=Das |agency=TNN |date=11 May 2011 |newspaper=[[The Times of India]] |accessdate=2011-05-12}}</ref><ref name="livemint">{{cite news |url=http://www.livemint.com/2010/08/26225040/Uttar-Pradesh-farmers-protest.html |title=Uttar Pradesh farmers protest in Capital over land acquisition |publisher=livemint.com |date=27 August 2010|accessdate=2011-05-12}}</ref> | ||
The issue is controversial because around 65% of the Indian population is economically dependent on agriculture but the government has the power to requisition any private land which it thinks is needed for a "public purpose". Past examples of this included several acquisitions by regional authorities across India for the purpose of developing [[Special Economic Zones]] to boost the economy and create jobs. In this instance, the state government of Uttar Pradesh has requisitioned the land for the building of the [[Yamuna Expressway]],<ref name="livemint"/> a road linking [[Agra]] to Delhi.<ref name="bbc20110512">{{cite news |title=Rahul Gandhi arrested for joining farmers' land protest |date=12 May 2011 |publisher=BBC |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-13370631 |accessdate=2011-05-12| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20110513061428/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-13370631| archivedate= 13 May 2011 | url-status= live}}</ref> | The issue is controversial because around 65% of the Indian population is economically dependent on agriculture but the government has the power to requisition any private land which it thinks is needed for a "public purpose". Past examples of this included several acquisitions by regional authorities across India for the purpose of developing [[Special Economic Zones]] to boost the economy and create jobs. In this instance, the state government of Uttar Pradesh has requisitioned the land for the building of the [[Yamuna Expressway]],<ref name="livemint"/> a road linking [[Agra]] to Delhi.<ref name="bbc20110512">{{cite news |title=Rahul Gandhi arrested for joining farmers' land protest |date=12 May 2011 |publisher=BBC |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-13370631 |accessdate=2011-05-12| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20110513061428/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-13370631| archivedate= 13 May 2011 | url-status= live}}</ref> | ||
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The cause of the May 2011 protests in Uttar Pradesh are disputed: the protestors claim that they are a direct consequence of the land acquisition has been challenged by the state government, which has stated that the acquisitions had been completed by July 2010 and that the 2011 protests were due to "anti-social" elements encouraging the violence.<ref name="bbc20110509">{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-13330343 |publisher=BBC |title=Uttar Pradesh farmers protest spreads |date=9 May 2011 |accessdate=2011-05-12}}</ref> The farmers believe that the compensation paid by the state government for their land was inadequate, whereas the government believes it to be generous.<ref name="bbc20110512"/> | The cause of the May 2011 protests in Uttar Pradesh are disputed: the protestors claim that they are a direct consequence of the land acquisition has been challenged by the state government, which has stated that the acquisitions had been completed by July 2010 and that the 2011 protests were due to "anti-social" elements encouraging the violence.<ref name="bbc20110509">{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-13330343 |publisher=BBC |title=Uttar Pradesh farmers protest spreads |date=9 May 2011 |accessdate=2011-05-12}}</ref> The farmers believe that the compensation paid by the state government for their land was inadequate, whereas the government believes it to be generous.<ref name="bbc20110512"/> | ||
===6 May=== | ===2011=== | ||
Three officials from the [[Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation]], a public transport body, were kidnapped by inhabitants of Bhatta Parsaul village while in the area to conduct a survey.<ref name="toi20110511"/> | ====6 May==== | ||
Three officials from the [[Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation]], a public transport body, were kidnapped by inhabitants of Bhatta village and Parsaul village while in the area to conduct a survey.<ref name="toi20110511"/> | |||
===7–9 May | ====7–9 May==== | ||
Violence erupted on 7 May as police moved in to rescue the abducted men, This included a three-hour gun battle between the villagers and police force, which led to the death of two policemen and two civilians, as well as several injured casualties.<ref name="toi20110511"/><ref name="bbc20110512"/><ref name="bbc20110519"/> A number of local farmers were arrested, entry to the village was effectively shut off and [[Section 144]] (a measure to limit unlawful assembly) was imposed in an attempt to quell the troubles.<ref name="toi20110511"/> | Violence erupted on 7 May as police moved in to rescue the abducted men, This included a three-hour gun battle between the villagers and police force, which led to the death of two policemen and two civilians, as well as several injured casualties.<ref name="toi20110511"/><ref name="bbc20110512"/><ref name="bbc20110519"/> A number of local farmers were arrested, entry to the village was effectively shut off and [[Section 144]] (a measure to limit unlawful assembly) was imposed in an attempt to quell the troubles.<ref name="toi20110511"/> | ||
The violence continued on 8 May and the state government deployed 2,000 policemen on 9 May.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://post.jagran.com/farmers-stir-opposition-slams-mayawati-on-land-acquisition-1304927196 |title=Farmers' stir: Opposition slams Mayawati on land acquisition |accessdate=2013-09-10}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.inewsone.com/2011/05/11/congress-defends-rahuls-visit-to-farmers-village/49686 |title=Congress defends Rahul's visit to farmers' village |accessdate=2013-09-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110603221841/http://www.inewsone.com/2011/05/11/congress-defends-rahuls-visit-to-farmers-village/49686 |archive-date=3 June 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/promises-made-to-farmers-by-mayawati-a-charade-kalraj/677941.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121015103922/http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/promises-made-to-farmers-by-mayawati-a-charade-kalraj/677941.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-10-15 |title=Promises made to farmers by Mayawati a charade: Kalraj |publisher=IBN Live News |accessdate=2013-09-10}}</ref> | The violence continued on 8 May and the state government deployed 2,000 policemen on 9 May.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://post.jagran.com/farmers-stir-opposition-slams-mayawati-on-land-acquisition-1304927196 |title=Farmers' stir: Opposition slams Mayawati on land acquisition |accessdate=2013-09-10}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.inewsone.com/2011/05/11/congress-defends-rahuls-visit-to-farmers-village/49686 |title=Congress defends Rahul's visit to farmers' village |accessdate=2013-09-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110603221841/http://www.inewsone.com/2011/05/11/congress-defends-rahuls-visit-to-farmers-village/49686 |archive-date=3 June 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/promises-made-to-farmers-by-mayawati-a-charade-kalraj/677941.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121015103922/http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/promises-made-to-farmers-by-mayawati-a-charade-kalraj/677941.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-10-15 |title=Promises made to farmers by Mayawati a charade: Kalraj |publisher=IBN Live News |accessdate=2013-09-10}}</ref> | ||
===11 May | ====11 May==== | ||
[[Rahul Gandhi]], the president of the [[Indian youth congress]] reached the village after eluding the police. He conducted a [[dharna]]<ref>{{cite news |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-05-11/india/29531669_1_digvijay-demands-three-point-relief-relief-for-bhatta-farmers-bhatta-parsaul |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105124538/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-05-11/india/29531669_1_digvijay-demands-three-point-relief-relief-for-bhatta-farmers-bhatta-parsaul |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 November 2012 |work=[[The Times of India]] |title=Farmers' stir: BJP cries foul over Rahul's dharna in Bhatta | date=11 May 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/khurshid-criticises-bjp-for-attacking-rahul/789087/ |title=Khurshid criticises BJP for attacking Rahul |accessdate=2013-09-10}}</ref> and was subsequently briefly taken into "preventative custody".<ref name="bbc20110512"/> | [[Rahul Gandhi]], the president of the [[Indian youth congress]] reached the village after eluding the police. He conducted a [[dharna]]<ref>{{cite news |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-05-11/india/29531669_1_digvijay-demands-three-point-relief-relief-for-bhatta-farmers-bhatta-parsaul |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105124538/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-05-11/india/29531669_1_digvijay-demands-three-point-relief-relief-for-bhatta-farmers-bhatta-parsaul |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 November 2012 |work=[[The Times of India]] |title=Farmers' stir: BJP cries foul over Rahul's dharna in Bhatta | date=11 May 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/khurshid-criticises-bjp-for-attacking-rahul/789087/ |title=Khurshid criticises BJP for attacking Rahul |accessdate=2013-09-10}}</ref> and was subsequently briefly taken into "preventative custody".<ref name="bbc20110512"/> | ||
===16–19 May | ====16–19 May==== | ||
Gandhi claimed that he had seen evidence that many farmers had been murdered and some women raped during the state reaction to the protests. He had seen a heap of ash in the village "with dead bodies inside". There were claims that the situation was now being exploited for political ends by the [[Indian National Congress|Congress Party]], of which Gandhi and his extended family are prominent members, with elections being due to take place in the state. However, an investigation by the [[BBC]] could find nothing to support the allegations, although there was anger regarding the violent beatings and similar actions which had occurred. It was suggested that the numerous farmers who were missing had simply fled the village and not yet returned. Gandhi subsequently attempted to backtrack on his remarks, claiming that he had been misrepresented and then that he had based his comments on conversations with the villagers, but the BBC reporter maintained that he had in fact made the allegations as originally reported.<ref name="bbc20110519">{{cite news |date=19 May 2011 |title=Scorched village in farmer 'atrocity' row |first=Rajesh |last=Joshi |publisher=BBC |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-13451219 |accessdate=2011-05-20| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20110520022827/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-13451219| archivedate= 20 May 2011 | url-status= live}}</ref> The governing [[Bahujan Samaj Party]] subsequently announced that Gandhi's allegations were baseless.<ref>{{cite news |date=19 May 2011 |title=Rahul Gandhi atrocity claims 'baseless' |first=Rajesh |last=Joshi |publisher=BBC |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-13458335 |accessdate=2011-05-20| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20110520001038/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-13458335| archivedate= 20 May 2011 | url-status= live}}</ref> | Gandhi claimed that he had seen evidence that many farmers had been murdered and some women raped during the state reaction to the protests. He had seen a heap of ash in the village "with dead bodies inside". There were claims that the situation was now being exploited for political ends by the [[Indian National Congress|Congress Party]], of which Gandhi and his extended family are prominent members, with elections being due to take place in the state. However, an investigation by the [[BBC]] could find nothing to support the allegations, although there was anger regarding the violent beatings and similar actions which had occurred. It was suggested that the numerous farmers who were missing had simply fled the village and not yet returned. Gandhi subsequently attempted to backtrack on his remarks, claiming that he had been misrepresented and then that he had based his comments on conversations with the villagers, but the BBC reporter maintained that he had in fact made the allegations as originally reported.<ref name="bbc20110519">{{cite news |date=19 May 2011 |title=Scorched village in farmer 'atrocity' row |first=Rajesh |last=Joshi |publisher=BBC |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-13451219 |accessdate=2011-05-20| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20110520022827/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-13451219| archivedate= 20 May 2011 | url-status= live}}</ref> The governing [[Bahujan Samaj Party]] subsequently announced that Gandhi's allegations were baseless.<ref>{{cite news |date=19 May 2011 |title=Rahul Gandhi atrocity claims 'baseless' |first=Rajesh |last=Joshi |publisher=BBC |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-13458335 |accessdate=2011-05-20| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20110520001038/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-13458335| archivedate= 20 May 2011 | url-status= live}}</ref> | ||
===6 March | ===2012=== | ||
Gandhi and his Indian National Congress party made land acquisition protests and farmer agitation as one of the 2012 Assembly Election issues in Bhatta Parsaul. The party nominee, Dhirendra Singh, however was rejected by the electorate of Bhatta Parsaul. Instead, Vedram Bhati of the incumbent party BSP was elected back to the Uttar Pradesh Assembly.<ref>{{cite news|title=From Bhatta Parsaul to Dalit homes, Rahul, party lost in all|author=Ravish Tiwari|newspaper=The Indian Express|date=7 March 2012|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/from-bhatta-parsaul-to-dalit-homes-rahu.../921057/}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=UP elections 2012: Bhatta Parsaul vote for BSP|publisher=Zee News|date=7 March 2012|url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/uttar-pradesh-polls/up-elections-2012-bhatta-parsaul-vote-for-bsp_762500.html}}</ref> | ====6 March==== | ||
Gandhi and his Indian National Congress party made land acquisition protests and farmer agitation as one of the 2012 Assembly Election issues in Bhatta and Parsaul village. The party nominee, Dhirendra Singh, however was rejected by the electorate of Bhatta Parsaul. Instead, Vedram Bhati of the incumbent party BSP was elected back to the Uttar Pradesh Assembly.<ref>{{cite news|title=From Bhatta Parsaul to Dalit homes, Rahul, party lost in all|author=Ravish Tiwari|newspaper=The Indian Express|date=7 March 2012|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/from-bhatta-parsaul-to-dalit-homes-rahu.../921057/}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=UP elections 2012: Bhatta Parsaul vote for BSP|publisher=Zee News|date=7 March 2012|url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/uttar-pradesh-polls/up-elections-2012-bhatta-parsaul-vote-for-bsp_762500.html}}</ref> | |||
==Crushed Dreams Documentary== | ==Crushed Dreams Documentary== | ||