BJP to support farmers bandh in UP

Accusing the BSP government in Uttar Pradesh of harassing farmers, the BJP today announced it would support their proposed state-wide bandh tomorrow.

"The party is already associated with farmers agitation and it has decided to support state-wide bandh call given by Kisan Sangharsh Samiti," party spokesperson Hriday Narain Dixit told reporters in Lucknow.

Kisan Sangharsh Samiti, an outfit spearheading the ongoing farmers' agitation in Aligarh had given a call for a state-wide bandh tomorrow demanding higher compensation for land acquired for Yamuna Expressway project.

Dixit said the party had earlier announced to hold demonstrations and dharnas at all district headquarters on August 25.

"But now that programme has been revised and the party has decided to participate in the bandh called by the farmers," he said.

He claimed that the state government was acting against the interests of the farmers to help an industrial house.

"As a face saving exercise, the BSP has announced to support a demonstration in New Delhi on August 26," he said.