Amar held at visit to Noida farmers

BY OUR CORRESPONDENT

New Delhi

Aug. 18: Samajwadi Party general secretary Amar Singh was on Monday detained at the Delhi-Noida border when he was on his way to visit the farmers in Greater Noida, who have been protesting against inadequate compensation against land acquisition by the Greater Noida Development Authority (GNDA).

Mr Singh, along with his supporters, was prevented from entering Noida by the Noida police, who released him subsequently.

Following the pitched battle between the farmers and the police outside the GNDA office in which four persons were killed and more than 50 were injured, the Noida police has not allowed any politician to visit either the scene of the incident or Ghhori Bachchera village, from where most of the farmers belonged. They have been maintaining that visit of politicians could lead to a breach of peace among the protesters.

Bharatiya Janata Party president Rajnath Singh, Rashtriya Lok Dal leader and farmer leader Rakesh Tikait were among several other local-level politicians who have been prevented from reaching Greater Noida.

Meanwhile, the farmers held a mahapanchayat in Greater Noida on Monday on the issue of the police firing and compensation.