BJP today lashed out at Rahul Gandhi for his claims of police brutality and rape in Greater Noida villages, and said the Congress leader should refrain from making such statements without ascertaining facts.

"While being in opposition, we should be careful not to hurt the sentiments of people we are supporting...though atrocities have been committed against farmers, Rahul Gandhi has no right to insult the women and poor farmers of the area by claiming on TV that they have been raped," BJP spokesperson Syed Shahnawaz Hussain told a press conference here.

He said without carrying out proper investigations and ascertaining facts, Gandhi should not make such comments.

"His statement is an effort by Congress to make the fight directionless," Hussain alleged.

Taking a dig at Gandhi, he said the Congress leader should read out from a prepared text as he often fumbles even while participating in parliamentary debates. "He should read out from written text so that his (Congress) spokesperson does not have to defend him later."

When asked whether the incidents in Greater Noida were a perfect case for imposition of President's Rule in Uttar Pradesh, the BJP spokesperson said it cannot be expected as BSP chief Mayawati, and also the Samajwadi Party, always help the UPA when it comes to number game.

"Congress will encash the bond it has from the two parties," he alleged.

Asked whether BJP supported the demand of Congress for an independent probe into the violence, he said a joint Parliamentary team should investigate the matter to bring out the truth.

Commenting on the feedback BJP leaders have received from the residents of village Bhatta Parsaul, Hussain said while there had been incidents of atrocities, nobody has come forward with complaints of rape.

"If Rahul Gandhi knows that rapes have been committed, he should ensure that a case is registered in this regard. He should not go to the media with the allegations," he said.

Hussain said if Mayawati thinks Gandhi has made a misleading statement, then she should take action against him.

But at the same time he hinted that it was not possible as "match has been fixed" between the two parties.

"Neither is Congress, nor Gandhi serious about the plight of the farmers. If at all he is serious, has the Centre issued an advisory to the state government under Article 355," he questioned.

He said the BJP was serious about the Land Acquisition Bill with amendments and would support it in Parliament. The BJP MP also scoffed at suggestions that Rahul's stand on UP violence was supported by party veteran L K Advani and young MP Varun Gandhi.

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Ajit Singh backs Congress' demand for Bhatta Parsaul probe

Rashtriya Lok Dal president Ajit Singh today supported the Congress' demand for a judicial probe into the Bhatta Parsaul incident and termed it a valid demand.

"If a responsible MP or a peoples' representative claims that he has evidences of atrocities, the government should order a judicial inquiry," Ajit Singh said when asked about the demand of a judicial or CBI inquiry by Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi over the recent incidents in Bhatta Parsaul.

Talking to news persons here, Singh said the Land Acquisition Act 1894 has become redundant and needed to be scrapped immediately.

A new law should be brought in its place which is more practical and progressive within a time-frame, he said adding that it should also redefine the definition of public welfare for which land could be acquired.

The Act is being misused all over the country but Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati is doing so in a very blatant manner. "The state government was planning to acquire two lakh hectares land of 1190 revenue villages for the Yamuna Expressway Authority," he claimed.

The RLD chief said there was a move to bring a new bill in the winter session of Parliament but because of the deadlock on 2G Spectrum it could not be done and he had raised the issue again in the business advisory meeting of the budget session but both the BJP and the Congress showed no interest.

Terming the BSP government an autocratic one, Singh said people who want to get rid of this government wanted the Opposition parties to unite and his party is trying that a progressive alternative comes into existence in the state.

Keeping alive the hopes of an electoral understanding with the Congress in near future, Singh said that barring the BJP and the BSP, the doors of all parties were open.

"There can be an understanding with the Congress and the Samajwadi Party but it seems that Mulayam Sing Yadav has taken a separate path," he added.