Ghagholi (Aligarh), July 8
Citing the compulsions of coalition politics in early passage of the Land Acquisition Bill, Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi today promised that the bill when finally passed will be in favour of farmers.

Today was the fourth day of Rahul Gandhi’s padayatra of several districts of western Uttar Pradesh where he is holding impromptu meetings to hear grievances of farmers. The padayatra is to conclude with a kisan mahapanchayat at Aligarh on Saturday.

Rahul was talking to farmers about impediments in the passing of the new land law in view of objections raised by the Trinamool Congress (TMC), even though he did not mention either the TMC or Mamta Bannerjee.

While hearing the grievances of the farmers assembled in this village along the Yamuna Expressway, Rahul said, "We have a coalition government at the Centre in Delhi. There are a number of partners. We have to hold discussions with them, we are talking to our partners. We will bring a good law, we are trying our best to pass it in the next session of Lok Sabha."

The Congress leader said the National Advisory Council (NAC) and the government were both discussing the law.

Counselling patience, he said, "It takes time to make a new law and the Centre is already working on it. If we make the law in five minutes, it will be wrong.We wish to enact to a new law which can last for at least next 20 to 30 years."

Asked why the Centre did not stop the Mayawati government from "forcibly" taking over their land, the Congress leader said, "You have to understand one thing straight, I do not run the UP government. I cannot help you in anyway about it.”