Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has sharply criticised Mayawati government in Uttar Pradesh over land acquisition issue accusing her of providing land of farmers to the private builders. He alleged that the BSP leaders have taken money from builders for providing land to them.

Addressing different meetings on Wednesday at Beharaich and Shrawasti districts today Rahul said the BSP government has taken land from farmers forcibly to oblige private builders.

He said the Congres has raised this issue and brought a farmer friendly Land Acquisition Bill in parliament. He held the non congress governments in Uttar Pradesh responsible for the backwardness in Uttar Pradesh. He accused both Chief Minister Mayawati and former Chief Minister Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav for being unaware of ground realities.

Highlighting the achievements of UPA government at the Centre Rahul Gandhi said the people in Uttar Pradesh have been unable to benefit from the welfare programmes and schemes initiated by the Congress led government at the centre due to misrule and corrupt practices of the BSP government.

the Congress leader is on a 5 days public contact programme in Uttarpradesh that began on Tuesday.

Reiterating his allegations for malpractices in the implementation of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Guaranty Act MNREGA in the state he alleged that funds were siphoned off to the pockets of middlemen and ruling party agents.

Mr. Rahul Gandhi called for a political change in the state and said that the Congress was committed for the progress of the state as it has done in the other parts of the country.