80,000 farmers protest land acquisition in Indian capital

Farmers attend a protest in New Delhi August 26, 2010. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

NEW DELHI, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- More than 80,000 farmers from the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh (UP) Thursday protested in the center of the Indian national capital, as they marched towards the Parliament denouncing forced acquisition of land by the state government for an expressway project.

"Traffic virtually came to a standstill in several parts of the capital as the farmers entered through Ghazipur on the Delhi- Uttar Pradesh border and went straight to Ram Leela ground before marching towards Parliament. But security forces stopped them at Jantar Mantar, barely two kilometers from Parliament," a senior police official said.

The farmers have been protesting against what they claim is very little compensation they are getting for the land taken away by the Uttar Pradesh government for construction of Yamuna Expressway project which will connect Agra, a tourist attraction where the Taj Mahal is located, and Delhi.

The dispute has already caused the death of at least three farmers killed by police in conflict.

They also wanted the central government to amend the Land Acquisition Act, the official said.

Police did not yet use force to disperse the protesting farmers from the roads.

Meanwhile, the ruling Congress party's incharge for Uttar Pradesh, Digvijaya Singh, said that the farmers should gather at the state Assembly and not the national parliament.

"Instead of protesting outside Lok Sabha (lower house of parliament), let us go and protest at the UP Assembly. I don't think the farmers should be at Lok Sabha. During the protest called by the farmers in UP, they said they won't cause any inconvenience to the public. The idea is to make sure that their voices are heard," he said.

A farmer listens to a speaker during a protest in New Delhi August 26, 2010. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

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