The traditional rivals — the Congress and the BJP on Tuesday traded charges over favouring Baba Ramdev's Patanjali Yog Peeth, on the execution of leasing out 22 acres of land near Sadhupul in Solan district.
The bitter debate on the issue surfaced in the assembly during question hour, when Revenue Minister Kaul Singh Thakur was replying to a question raised by Congress legislator Anirudh Singh.
Pinching the Government on taking a U-turn on the cancellation of land lease, which was executed by previous BJP Government, leader of Opposition Prem Kumar Dhumal raised apprehensions on the haste of Government to restore the lease agreement.
Replying to the point raised by Dhumal, Thakur said that it was not Congress Government, but Dhumal Government, which executed the land deal in a hurry and a number of anomalies were found in the lease agreement later by the incumbent Government.
Kaul Singh said that the land lease in favour of Patanjali Yog Peeth was cancelled by the Government on Feb 19, 2013, and the issue of restoration of land lease in favour of Patanjali Yog Peeth Trust, Haridwar (Uttrakhand) was brought in the cabinet on Feb 17, 2017 for reconsideration on the cancellation of the lease.
Thakur said that cabinet had taken decision to review the cancellation of land lease, as it was putting unnecessary financial burden on State exchequer to keep control over the disputed land. He informed that the state had to deploy a battalion of police to keep the possession on the land.
He said, "The matter has been put for reconsideration as Baba Ramdev wanted to establish a Herbal Medicinal Park over there." "The decision of cancellation of land lease will be reviewed, if Patanjali Yogapeeth withdraws the suit filed against the State in High Court" added Thakur.
Accusing previous Government's deed for cancellation of land lease, Thakur said that the land lease was cancelled because a number of anomalies were found in the land deal, which was done overnight by the previous regime just to favour Baba Ramdev.
He also said that the Government was forced to take over the possession of the leased land as the lessee was found constructing a multi-story five star hotel and a hospitality unit on the land.
Thakur said that, the lease of `1 per annum for 22 acres of land for 99 years was completely an unjustified move of the Dhumal Government. And there were tempering and overwriting at many places in the lease document.
He added, the present Government will reconsider the lease contract after removing all the anomalies in the previous lease agreement.
He further said that the lease document was not even signed by Acharya Balkrishan, who happens to be the holder of power of attorney for the Yog Peeth, and the lease document was signed by someone else, who had been given power of attorney by Acharya Balkrishan.
The decision to hand over the land back to Patanjali Yog Peeth would be taken on the basis of pros and cons of the matter, when it comes before cabinet again, he added.