PM announces compensation for injured in GNoida protests

New Delhi, May 22 (PTI) Indian Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh Sunday announced a financial assistance of Rs 50,000 to
those seriously injured and Rs 10,000 for people who suffered
minor injuries during violence at Bhatta Parsaul villages in
Greater Noida, in the north Indian state Uttar Pradesh
recently.
A statement issued by the Prime Minister's office said
the Prime Minister has announced the financial assistance for
farmers and their family members injured during the recent
incidents at Bhatta Parsaul and other areas in Gautam Budh
Nagar district of Uttar Pradesh.
Farmers who were agitating for more compensation for
their land from the state government were allegedly beaten up
by Uttar Pradesh police after the crowd reportedly turned
violent.
One person was killed in the violence while the
district collector and senior police officials were injured.
The protests became a major political issue when
Indian National Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi
reached the spot last week and spent a day with the family
members of the farmers.
He was arrested late in the night but released after a
few hours.
Gandhi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati
sparred over the issue with the former demanding more
compensation while the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) government
maintained that Congress was playing politics over the issue.
Former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Rajnath
Singh also tried to visit Bhatta Parsaul but was not
permitted. He later held a 24 hour fast in Ghaziabad to
protest against the "atrocities of the UP government and
growing lawlessness in the state".