launching a scathing attack on previous Congress Government in Haryana, Union Minister Chaudhary Birender Singh on Saturday said that change of land use licences (ClU) used to be given in a ‘secret’ manner under the Bhupinder Hooda regime and demanded a probe in ‘suspicious’ land deals.
Talking to mediapersons here, he said, “During Bhupinder Singh Hooda regime, ClUs used to be given in a very secret manner and even I was not aware of it...During last five years of Congress regime in Haryana, a lot many were obliged
with ClUs.”
The Rural Development Minister said Haryana Government should hold an inquiry in all land deals which are suspicious in nature. “land deals in Haryana which raise questions should be inquired into. I ask the State Government that it should probe thoroughly,” he said.
“During 10 years of (Congress) regime (in Haryana) inquiry should be held if procedure was not followed in land deals and to know who were the persons behind such shady deals,” he said.
The minister also said an inquiry should be held into release of about 19,000 acres out of 78,000 acres of land acquired from farmers. He said notice section 4 had been issued in the matter but it was later withdrawn. “It is suspected that it was a ploy to benefit a few developers and builders,” he alleged.
“Hooda was Chief Minister (in Haryana)...Therefore he should face it,” he said.
On scrapped Nano City project of Hotmail founder Sabeer Bhatia, the minister claimed that the Hooda Government had been keen on allotting farm land for the project in Panchkula, rather than foothill land.
Asked about Supreme Court’s stay on holding Panchayat elections in Haryana, he said some states have carried out similar amendments as made by Haryana Government. “Academicians say, if educated people come, then they can contribute in a better way,” he said.
Supreme Court has stayed the operation of recent changes in State election laws that have made certain educational qualifications compulsory for contesting Panchayat polls. The apex court will hear the matter on Monday after Haryana Government rushed to the court and sought an urgent hearing on the entire issue.
Birender Singh who was with the Congress for decades and was also its General Secretary before the 2014 lok Sabha polls, said that Congress party leaders, in the name of farmers, are just trying to recover their political base and credibility which have been lost due to their historic defeat by way of rally to be organized in New Delhi. These leaders have befooled the farmers and now doing similar tactics to grind their own axe in the name of farmers.
He said Congress had cheated farmers and people during their 10 years rule in the country. “It is ridiculous that congress party is organizing its rally as Vijay Diwas in the context of land Acquisition Bill as Chief Ministers of Congress ruled states demanded for change in land Acquisition Act-2013 in a meeting held under the chairmanship of Union Minister Nitin Gadkari in year 2014,” he claimed.
The Union Minister said that Congress had brought land Acquisition Act of 2013 with the intention to take advantage in parliament elections but people had given the Congress party a befitted reply for scams committed during their regime. “It is a matter of surprise that Congress party termed the land acquisition act prior 2013 as black law and the party acquired the land under the same act,” he said, questioning why Congress party had prevented Chief Ministers of 9 Congress rule states for participation in the meeting called by Niti Ayog. He said that Bill has been referred to the Join Parliamentary Committee and the Government has an open mind on the issue.
Birender Singh said that 37 Special Economic Zones (SEZs) were floated in the state and land acquired for them by the previous Government, but only 6 are functional. The prime land of farmers was given to builders on a very low prices during the Congress rule especially in Haryana.
Quoting data, he said that 78,695 acres of land was acquired in last 10 years. After the notice of section 4 and even section 6, 19309 acres was released in the state. He said that in three districts namely Rohtak, Sonipat and Gurgaon, as many as 4636 acres land was released after the notice of section 4 and 6. land was also released in Faridabad after the notice of section 4, he added. He said that 175 Change of land Use was also granted in the name of those who had purchased such land. He demanded that the erstwhile Government should explain on the issue.