Daijiworld Media Network

Uttar Pradesh, Jul 5: Rahul Gandhi launched a padyatra or foot march on Tuesday July 5 from Bhatta Parsaul village here where farmers had recently protested against land acquisitions.

Gandhi's fresh campaign gains a lot of significance specially when the United Progressive Allaince (UPA) government is set to bring in a new legislation in order to replace the existing archaic law for land acquisition.

Mayawati's government had denied permission for the Congress leader to hold such gatherings in Bhatta and Parsaul villages.

Rahul who has been seen as the Congress party's future prime ministerial candidate had been struggling to give the campaign a fresh stimulus here.

Gandhi stopped at Rumstampur and Bhaipur to hear the grievances of the villagers. He had said that he was keen to understand the farmers' issue properly.

Farmers have been upset about their land being acquired for public projects and then re-sold to real estate companies after a mark-up by the government.

Congress party has been losing its ground to socialist parties like currently ruling Bahujan Samaj party (BSP) and opposition Samajwadi Party untill Gandhi's campaign helped the Congress to win 21 seats in the 2009 general elections.

Sources say that the congress general secretary will take his march through  villages along the Yamuna Expressway to Aligarh where he is expected to hold a Mahapanchayat on July 9.

Gandhi has already walked 16 kms and his motorcade has now reached Nagla Bathona village.