Lucknow, October 13
The Mayawati government's decision to cancel land for the railway coach factory in Rae Bareli was challenged in the Allahabad High Court as well as people on the streets of Rae Bareli.
As the Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court today granted a stay on the cancellation of the land acquired for setting up rail coach factory in Rae Bareli, angry residents of Sonia Gandhi's constituency staged protests, burnt Mayawati's effigies, torched a state transport bus, pelted stones and braved lathi charge by the district police.
Giving an inkling of a possible confrontation at Rae Bareli tomorrow, the UP government today issued an unsigned press
note claiming that since the court had ordered status quo on the land, there was no question of the proposed ‘Bhoomi Pujan’ there tomorrow.
On the other hand UPCC president Rita Bahuguna Joshi claimed that Congress president Sonia Gandhi would now address a public meeting in Aihar Inter College compound near Lalganj.
Earlier in the day, hearing a petition filed by the central government , Justices Pradeep Kant and Shabih-ul-Hasnain observed: “Both parties shall maintain status quo over the land in question regarding possession.”
The court also directed the state government to file a counter-affidavit in a week’s time. The petition was moved by the Union of India through secretary, Railway Board, Ministry of Railways and two others.
Describing the court order as vindication of its stand, the UPCC president said: “We are happy that the court has defeated the designs of the Mayawati government of unleashing political vendetta and stalling development in the state.”
In Rae Bareli a furious mob dodged state police and PAC personnel to stage protests in Lalganj, GuruBakshganj and Harchandarpur areas throughout the day.
Markets wore a deserted look as shops downed shutters on a call given by local Congress and RJD leaders.
