Congress to gherao Haryana assembly on March 7 over govt’s land scams

The Congress also alleged that the route of the Metro line in Gurgaon was changed so that certain BJP leaders, and builders close to them, benefit by hundreds of crores

 Thousands of Congress workers will gherao the Haryana assembly on March 7 to protest against the alleged land scams being carried out by the ruling BJP in cahoots with builders in Gurgaon.

Congress state president Ashok Tanwar alleged that 454 acres of municipal land in Gwal Pahari had been transferred to private parties at the behest of the BJP leadership. (Parveen Kumar/HT Photo)

Congress state president Ashok Tanwar, who was in Gurgaon on Saturday, said over 10,000 workers, including party MLAs, will be mobilised from across the state to protest against increasing corruption and encroachment of hundreds of acres of forest and municipal land by BJP leaders in the city.

Tanwar, who was addressing a press conference along with senior party leaders, alleged that 454 acres of municipal land in Gwal Pahari had been transferred to private parties at the behest of the BJP leadership.

He, whoever, refused to comment when asked about the licenses issued to developers in the same area by the previous Congress government.

“Never in the past has the chief minister written a letter to the court to expedite and resolve a dispute related to land. This is illegal and the matter should be investigated,” Tanwar said while referring to the Gwal Pahari land issue. The Congress leader also said that the mutation of the said land was cancelled only when the matter became public and there was pressure on the government.

The Congress also alleged that the route of the Metro line in Gurgaon was changed so that certain BJP leaders, and builders close to them, benefit by hundreds of crores. “Recently there has been a change in the TOD (transit -oriented development) policy, which allows substantial increase in Floor Area Ratio (FAR) along the Metro line. Anyone who has projects along the metro line or has land will greatly benefit from this. We want an investigation in the matter,” said Captain Ajay Singh Yadav, former power minister.

The Congress leaders also said these allegations of land scams were being levelled not only by them but also sitting BJP MLA Umesh Agarwal, who has been raising these questions in the state assembly.

Congress general secretary Pradeep Zaildar said large tracts of land along the natural drains and ponds in Nathupur, Sikanderpur and other villages had also been encroached by the ruling party leaders. “We will launch an agitation in Gurgaon after the March 7 protest is over”, Zaildar said.