By Arun Pratap Singh
Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 3 Nov: The BJP today questioned the Congress’s proposed ‘Bhoomi Bachao Yatra’, alleging that successive Congress governments were responsible for creating and nurturing a land mafia culture in Uttarakhand. Addressing a press conference at the State BJP Headquarters here today, senior BJP MLA and state party spokesperson Vinod Chamoli said that, in contrast, BJP governments had introduced stringent land laws and taken action against illegal encroachments, thereby saving thousands of acres of land. He asserted that the Congress has no moral right to undertake such a march, given its record of alleged irregularities in land transactions and several major land scams during its tenure in the state.
Chamoli further alleged that the real intention behind the Congress’s proposed yatra is to obstruct and discredit the investments, expanding employment opportunities and development initiatives, particularly in the tourism sector, being undertaken in Uttarakhand.
Chamoli claimed that it is unfortunate that a party which had itself nurtured a land mafia culture and had been associated with more than four dozen land scam controversies is now planning to take out a march in the name of protecting land. Referring to a recent revelation concerning the proposed Muslim University in Dholas on the outskirts of Dehradun, he alleged that the Congress governments had earlier facilitated the allotment of land for the purpose during the tenure of former Chief Minister ND Tiwari.
The BJP MLA alleged that approximately 20 acres of land had been allotted at concessional rates to the Sheikhul Educational Trust. After several developments and changes in the ownership arrangements, the land was reportedly plotted and sold to around 15 persons, with subsequent transfers extending to nearly 80 people. While several legal aspects of the matter remain to be examined in the case, Chamoli added that the episode establishes the fact the land had indeed been allotted for the proposed Muslim University with the consent of the government at the time.
Chamoli also referred to another controversial land allotment at Nainisar in Almora district, where approximately seven hectares, or more than 17 acres, had allegedly been allotted to an educational trust associated with the Jindal Group. Chamoli said local residents had to launch a prolonged struggle against the allotment. He alleged that when the government took coercive action against the protesters and subjected them to harassment, they were compelled to approach the court, which subsequently intervened and restrained the government.
Recalling the then CM Harish Rawat’s justification for the Nainisar land allotment, Chamoli said the Congress government had defended the decision on the grounds that it was intended to attract investment in the hills and promote the education and tourism sectors. He questioned the Congress’s present opposition to similar initiatives aimed at attracting investment, asking why the party was adopting double standards on the issue of land allotment and investment in Uttarakhand.
Chamoli alleged that the Congress had consistently opposed the development of the state. He said that when opportunities for industrial investment emerged during the first elected government in Uttarakhand, several scams and irregularities came to light. Subsequently, when the BJP government assumed office, the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre, under Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, discontinued the industrial package granted to Uttarakhand by the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government.
He maintained that the proposed Bhoomi Bachao Yatra is another attempt by the Congress to obstruct and malign the ongoing investment and development initiatives in the state.
Highlighting the BJP government’s initiatives on land protection, Chamoli said the government led by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami had introduced a stringent land law to regulate land transactions in Uttarakhand. He recalled that the earlier land law, which had generated considerable discussion, had been introduced during the tenure of former Chief Minister BC Khanduri. The present government had subsequently brought in a new and more stringent legislation aimed at imposing restrictions on the purchase and sale of land and preventing its indiscriminate transfer.
He further claimed that the BJP government had freed more than 13,000 acres of land allegedly encroached upon illegally in the name of religious activities. He also said that the government was taking decisive steps towards securing approximately 80 acres of Railway land in the Banbhoolpura area of Haldwani.
Chamoli alleged that around 57 land allotments had been made across the state during ND Tiwari government of which 52 were in the Garhwal region and five in Kumaon. He alleged that these plots had been allotted at throwaway prices, with some parcels reportedly being transferred for as little as Rs 1, while others were allotted at rates of Rs 120 and Rs 125.
He also referred to the Udham Singh Nagar National Highway land compensation scam, alleging that compensation several times higher than the prevailing market rates, in some cases nearly 20 times the market value, had been paid. He said Uttarakhand had suffered because its first elected government, led by the Congress, had allegedly misused the state’s resources for private and vested interests. According to him, rules and regulations were manipulated to benefit select individuals and groups, resulting in the indiscriminate exploitation of the state’s resources.
Taking another swipe at the Congress, Chamoli said the proposed Bhoomi Bachao Yatra is intended to save the Congress’s dwindling political base rather than protect the state’s land resources.
State BJP media in-charge Manveer Singh Chauhan, media co-in-charge Rajendra Singh Negi, state spokespersons Hani Pathak and Kamlesh Raman were also present at the press conference.
