Following The Pioneer report that Delhi Industries Minister Satyendra Jain was putting “pressure” on Principal Secretary (Industries) Shakuntala Gamlin to bring a Cabinet note for conversion of industrial plots from leasehold to freehold, Delhi BJP has demanded lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung to order an enquiry into the matter. Delhi BJP president Satish Upadhyay said that after Sunday’s “exposure” of Jain’s efforts to get land use rules for plots changed, “it becomes absolutely clear why Arvind Kejriwal’s Government was totally opposed to the appointment of Shakuntala Gamlin as caretaker Chief Secretary as she had earlier objected to the Government’s illegal acts”.
The Delhi BJP chief urged the lieutenant Governor to order a thorough probe into the matter raised by Gamlin. “Now we understand CM Kejriwal’s averseness to all existing officials as they are not ready to support his unconstitutional misdeeds,” Upadhyay claimed. On the other hand, BJP MlA and former Delhi BJP president Vijender Gupta also lashed out at Delhi Industries Minister Satyendra Jain for trying to force the Principal Secretary (Industries) Shakuntala Doley Gamlin to bypass the established norms to bring a Cabinet proposal for conversion of industrial plots from leasehold to freehold in the national Capital despite the fact that the land does not come under the Delhi Government.
According to Gupta, the said land comes under the category of “Nazrul land,” which is held in the name of the President of India with lieutenant Governor vested with powers to administer the land. In her letter to the lieutenant Governor, Gamlin has mentioned that the Minister was made clear that the Delhi Government is in no way involved in the administration of “Nazrul lands except through the l-G who acts in these matters on the advice of the DDA, in his capacity as the chairman of the authority.”
BJP leader said that the industrial area came into existence after the ruling of the Supreme Court in the MC Mehta Vs Union of India case in 1998. Gupta said that the issue of freeholding the 10,000 industrial plots in the industrial areas of Bawana, Borgarh and Narela is a sensitive matter as it pertains to the fate of thousands of labourers working in those factories. The lease period for their properties in the industrial area is 33 years, which is renewable and non-transferable.
“Without the consent of the competent authority, the Delhi Cabinet cannot issue orders pertaining to the land. In trying to bypass the law, (Satyendra) Jain has not only given away his total lack of experience but also the malicious intent of AAP Government to cause another confrontation with Jung, to be seen as “Us versus Them”. This is a burning example of AAP’s anarchy that involves violation of rules, bypassing constitutional authorities and using pressure tactics against the bureaucracy, forcing them to work against the law,” he alleged.
Gupta said that the BJP fully understands the problems of stakeholders of Bawana, Borgarh and Narela industrial area and would take necessary steps, in accordance with the established procedures, to protect their interest. He further said that the matter should be investigated thoroughly and the appropriate action should be taken against the Minister for forcing a senior lady officer to sidestep the established norms and making it difficult for her to do her duty.