BJP targets Sonia in land acquisition row

With an eye on Anna Hazare’s crusade against corruption, the BJP raked up the scam involved in land allocation for the Rajiv Gandhi Trust in Haryana, targeting Congress president Sonia Gandhi.  Sensing the popular mood against corruption and given Hazare’s concern for the woes of the farmers resulting from land acquisitions, the BJP fielded former party president Rajnath Singh to raise the issue inside the Lok Sabha.

The reference to Congress president Sonia Gandhi led to uproarious scenes, forcing the House to be adjourned twice.

Amid repeated interruptions from the Congress members and objection from Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal who said that the state subject could not be raised in Parliament, Rajnath Singh defended himself on the ground that since the Land Acquisition Act will be a Central legislation, the issue could be taken up in Parliament.

While demanding a judicial inquiry into the land acquisitions in Haryana, Rajnath Singh wanted the Centre to issue an advisory to all the states to keep in abeyance the land acquisition proceedings until the new Land Acquisition Bill is passed in Parliament.  “Land acquisitions are for public purpose, but it cannot be justified, if it is done to benefit private builders,” he said.  However, when asked whether the BJP Central leadership would issue an advisory to the BJP-ruled states, Rajnath Singh simply stated that there was no land violation in these states.

From the village common land pool, land was leased out to the Rajiv Gandhi Trust for a period of 30 years.  In another instance, in 2006, land was acquired for Rajiv Educational Society, which was later sold to the private builders. Reacting to the claim of AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi that Haryana model of land acquisitions is the best model, Rajnath Singh asked,”Why then are the farmers angry in Haryana?”  Rajnath Singh said he had toured 12 villages in the area, including Ullahawas, and seen how the land was being acquired from farmers in an unjust and unfair manner.

During his visit to several villages in Haryana on August 5, delegations of farmers explained to him the modus operandi of the state government. Land acquisition proceedings are initiated under Section 4 and Section 6 of the Land Acquisition Act.  Once the villagers know that the government is all set to acquire the land, then, in collusion with the builders lobby, the administration withdraws the acquisition proceedings.

How Anna Hazare upset Rahul Gandhi's plans for UP

Anna Hazare’s fast in Tihar Jail seems to have had unintended consequences on Rahul Gandhi’s plans for the upcoming UP state elections.

In July Rahul started his four-day padyatra defying prohibitory orders in Bhatta-Parsaul, using the issue of land acquisition to find a toe-hold in UP. Little did he know that Anna’s fast would ensure his well-laid plans go awry.

Inspired by Anna the same farmers who walked with Gandhi are now planning to march to Delhi on October 18 to protest against land acquisitions. “Anna’s call has struck a chord with us.

The Centre keeps postponing the land acquisition law, the UP government hounds us, and our brethren are being killed in Pune.

Who is responsible? Does Rahul Gandhi really bother about anything beyond electoral gains?” asked Ajay Pal Sharma, a member of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) that spearheaded the Greater Noida agitation.

“Nothing changed for farmers after Gandhi’s visit to Bhatta-Parsaul. He visited the villages with an eye on the upcoming assembly elections. What did we get? Politicians have reduced us to a joke. Anna’s movement is against corruption and we fully support it,” said Raju Mallick, BKU’s spokesperson.

Another village elder said: “Anna has shown the way. Look what the governments are doing. Rahul came once and went away. Now the police come daily and harass us. We pleaded with him to ensure the cases are withdrawn. But nothing happened.”

Amrapali Group increases compensation for Greater Noida farmers

The Allahabad High Court's strong stand against the acquisition of farmers' land in Greater Noida area has left the builders worried about the fate of their upcoming projects on the huge expanse. As the high court's second verdict was expected on Wednesday, one of the most-affected builders -- Amrapali Group -- now wants to resolve the issue increasing the compensation paid to the farmers.

Anil Sharma told,"A day after the Allahabad High Court quashed the acquisition of 573 hectare land in Greater Noida, the group's chairman-cum-managing director".

Sharma said,"It is a jolt to the builders. This decision has affected a lot of developers. But the relief is that the area is so large and lot more projects are there. We are trying to find a solution".
He said, "We are thinking to resolve this issue permanently"

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"In fact, the (Greater Noida) authority is listening to us. If farmers ask for more compensation then they can levy it on us,