The BJP has taken up the cause of the Bihta farmers on a hunger strike seeking more compensation for their land acquired for IIT campus.

Party MLA Usha Vidyarthi, who represents Paliganj assembly seat, today turned up at the district magistrate’s weekly janata durbar to press for the farmers’ demands. She visited Patna collectorate around 12.45pm and spoke to district magistrate (DM) N. Saravana Kumar. “The farmers are on a fast-unto-death in Bihta and today is the eleventh day. You must intervene and listen to their demands,” she said.

She further said, “I will also request you to personally visit and talk to the farmers at the spot. They are looking for justice. They must get what they deserve. I also want you to probe the matter.”

Kumar replied, “You give all this in a proper application and I will ask additional collector Neelkamal to look into it.” Usha asked, “Can I send the application to you?” Kumar said, “No, I’ll be busy in the second half, you meet the additional collector itself.”

Usha then left the office. She said: “The farmers have been cheated and the DM is doing nothing.” She also wrote to the government. “I have written to chief minister Nitish Kumar and sought his intervention.” On the MLA’s request to visit the spot, the DM said, “It is not possible for every one to visit. Tomorrow, someone will ask why chief minister is not visiting? Administration is ready to probe irregularities. But the single-project-single rate demand is against rules.”

On Thursday, RJD Rajya Sabha MP Ram Kripal Yadav wrote to Prime Minister seeking his intervention.