Demand for CBI inquiry into Rajasthan government's "fraudulant land grab" of Gandhian institution

Vasundhara Raje

By Our Representative
Prominent Gandhians and civil society activists have taken strong exception to the Government of Rajasthan’s recent “forcible acquisition” of the land belonging to the Rajasthan Samagra Sewa Sangh (RSSS), a well-known Gandhian institution in Jaipur, terming it “atrocious” and “fraudulent”. Saying it signifies how the Vasundhara Raje-led BJP government is involved in a major land scam, larger than Mumbai’s Adarsh scam, a statement issued in Delhi said, “This is, no doubt, an attempt to towards land grabbing. It is an assault on the Gandhian ideology, for which active cadres for which the BJP and the RSS, are known for”.
In a joint statement, Sawai Singh, senior Gandhian, president of the Rajasthan Samagra Sewa Sangh; Radha Behen Bhatt, Surendra Kumar and Anupam Mishra of the Gandhi Peace Foundation; Ramchandra Rahi of the Gandhi Smarak Nidhi; Medha Patkar of the National Alliance of People’s Movements; and Kavita Srivastava of the People’s Union for Civil Liberties, said, “We consider it atrocious that the Jaipur Development Authority (JDA), directly under the chief minister of Rajasthan, has grabbed the land once purchased by the eminent Gandhians including Gokulbhai Bhatt, Gandhi of Rajasthan”.
“The land, 9.75 bighas, was no doubt acquired for the Jaipur airport project, but the process of acquisition was left incomplete. Therefore, the land that was leased out to RSSS, the original owner, continues to remain with it. Apart from questioning the lease operation, it is certainly obnoxious that a part of that land (0.75 bigha) which was transferred to the Gokul Vatika Krishi Sahakari Samiti, another old Gandhian organization, for agricultural experiments, has been fraudulently changed from
agricultural cooperative to housing cooperative at the behest of some IAS officers of JDA as well as the the minister of urban development.”

Gandhian institute premises: Victim of land grab

“JDA taking forceful possession of RSSS premises, on June 7 with police force and without any prior notice, evicting the resident Gandhian workers, is obviously an attempt to grab the prime land which has become worth Rs 1500 crore”, the statement said, adding, “Instead of enquiring into the fraud committed the Gokul Vatika Krishi Sahakari Samiti, JDA and the state government have acted in protection and promotion of the land grab.”

The statement further says, “Even if it is presumed that the 9.75 bighas of land belonging to RSSS since 1959 was acquired by the JDA in 1984 and compensation deposited in the treasury, the Gandhians are in possession of the land till date.” Since even after five years remained with the RSSS, “the latest acquisition violates clause 24 (2) of the Fair Compensation, Land Acquisition and Rehabilitation Act, 2013” and “the encroachment by the JDA in June 2014 is a serious crime that cannot be forgiven and forgotten.”
Demanding a CBI inquiry into the “fraud committed by the JDA”, the statement demands return of the land and possession back to the RSSS with dignity and paying for all the damages; and acceptance of the fact that under the new Act the land vests with the RSSS in spite of the old acquisition, which was never effected.

Comments

Savarkar 'criminally betrayed' Netaji and his INA by siding with the British rulers

By Shamsul Islam* RSS-BJP rulers of India have been trying to show off as great fans of Netaji. But Indians must know what role ideological parents of today's RSS/BJP played against Netaji and Indian National Army (INA). The Hindu Mahasabha and RSS which always had prominent lawyers on their rolls made no attempt to defend the INA accused at Red Fort trials.

Delhi HC rules in favour of retired Air Force officer 'overcharged' for Covid treatment

By Rosamma Thomas* In a decision of May 22, 2023, the Delhi High Court ruled in favour of petitioner Group Captain Suresh Khanna who was under treatment at CK Birla Hospital, Gurugram, between April 28 and May 5, 2021, for a period of eight days, for Covid-19 pneumonia. The petitioner had to pay Rs 3,55,286 as treatment costs, but the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) only reimbursed him for Rs 1,83,748, on the basis of government-approved rates.

'Enough evidence' in Indian tradition to support legal basis for same-sex marriage

By Iyce Malhotra, Joseph Mathai, Sandeep Chachra* The ongoing hearing in the Supreme Court on same-sex marriage provides space for much-needed conversations on issues that have hitherto remained “invisible” or engaged with patriarchal locker room humour. We must recognize that people with diverse sexualities and complex gender identities have faced discrimination, stigma and decades of oppression. Their issues have mainly remained buried in dominant social discourse, and many view them with deep insecurities.

Religious divide 'kept alive' with low intensity communalism in Gujarat's cultural capital

By Rajiv Shah A fact-finding report, prepared by the Mumbai-based non-profit, Centre for Study of Society and Secularism (CSSS), has cited the Vadodara Ram Navami violence of March 30 as yet another example of how, after the BJP consolidating its hold on political power in Gujarat post-2002 riots and at the Centre in 2014, the nature of communal riots has changed, underlining, as opposed to high-intensity violence earlier, now riots have become “more sub-radar and at a smaller scale, more localized”.

Buddhist shrines were 'massively destroyed' by Brahmanical rulers: Historian DN Jha

Nalanda mahavihara By Our Representative Prominent historian DN Jha, an expert in India's ancient and medieval past, in his new book , "Against the Grain: Notes on Identity, Intolerance and History", in a sharp critique of "Hindutva ideologues", who look at the ancient period of Indian history as "a golden age marked by social harmony, devoid of any religious violence", has said, "Demolition and desecration of rival religious establishments, and the appropriation of their idols, was not uncommon in India before the advent of Islam".

Swami Vivekananda's views on caste and sexuality were 'painfully' regressive

By Bhaskar Sur* Swami Vivekananda now belongs more to the modern Hindu mythology than reality. It makes a daunting job to discover the real human being who knew unemployment, humiliation of losing a teaching job for 'incompetence', longed in vain for the bliss of a happy conjugal life only to suffer the consequent frustration.

76% Odisha govt school infrastructure in dilapidated state, 'undermine' RTE norms

By Our Representative As many as 75.86% (5,421) elementary schools in Odisha do not possess a playground, depriving students of physical activity opportunities. Also, 75.68% (5,408) of schools require minor or major repairing, undermining the norms and standards stipulated in the Right to Education (RTE) Act.

Caste, impact on Ayodhya area 'halting' BJP rulers to act against Brij Bhushan Singh

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat* Finally, the #WrestlersProtest has got international attention. The United World Wrestling (UWW), condemning the treatment and detention of wrestlers and expressing its disappointment over the lack of results of the investigations against Brij Bhushan Singh, accused of sexually harassing women wrestlers, has urged the "relevant authorities to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation."

Urgency for next pandemic? But Mr Health Secretary, you're barking up wrong tree

By Dr Amitav Banerjee, MD* The Union Health Secretary, Mr Rajesh Bhushan addressing the Health Working Group of G20 India, at Hyderabad on 05 June 2023, cautioned that the next pandemic would not wait for us to make global treaties and called on countries to work together.

Generative AI as 'potent weapon and shield' in battle of political misinformation

By Haziq Jeelani* In the pulsating heart of the digital era, the political arena is ceaselessly molded by the swift and relentless flow of information. The line between fact and fiction often blurs, creating a nebulous landscape where truth and deceit intertwine.

Search This Blog