BSP chief and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati has said the Congress leaders’ foiled plan to hold a demonstration at her home village in Badalpur is “a gimmick” and has advised them to hold similar demonstrations in Maharashtra where farmers were being exploited and have been committing suicide.

“The comfort loving leaders of Congress have come out on the road to create the impression that the farmers are being exploited in UP, but they will not be able to convert this drama into votes,” she said.

The CM was reacting to Congress leaders’ march towards Badalpur in Gautambudh Nagar to protest against land acquisition by the state Government. The land will be developed as a tourist site.

Mayawati said not only in Badalpur, farmers across the state are being given handsome compensation for their land. “So far no farmer anywhere has approached the Government with a complaint”, she claimed.

She said the UPA Government had overlooked her requests to help the farmers. If the Congress leaders were really well-wishers of farmers, they would do well to hold demonstrations against the UPA Government, she added.