PANDEMONIUM PREVAILED in the Vidhan Parishad over the acquisition of farmers’ land for Dadri power project and Ansal hi-tech city in Lucknow. The Opposition accused the government of playing into the hands of capitalists and ruining the farmers.
Raising the issue through an adjournment motion in the House on Tuesday, the teachers group assailed the State Government for harassing the UP Housing Development Board employees who opposed the acquisition of farmers’ land for a private builder in the State Capital.
Teachers group leader Om Prakash Sharma and Panchanan Rai said the State Government had launched a reign of terror against the employees. Sharma said the Board had acquired 1760 acre of farmers’ land on Sultanpur road, which was later handed over to Ansal Builders to develop a hi-tech city. He said the employees who raised the issue were being victimised and large number of them had been transferred. Sharma said employee-teacher coordination committee had taken up the matter and it would launch an agitation from October 11.
Sharma said resentment was brewing among the employees and teachers against the vindictive attitude of the government that wanted to help the builder. Sharma said the government had cheated the farmers on Dadri and Ansal land acquisition. Sharma said president of the Board Employees’ Union Chotelal Verma had been dismissed on the issue. He said the government was hiding details of the Dadri agreement and even refused make it public under the Right to Information Act. Accusing the government of protecting the interest of Reliance Energy Limited, Sharma said democratic rights of the people were being trampled and added that the land was given to the Ansals at throwaway price.
{{/usCountry}}Sharma said resentment was brewing among the employees and teachers against the vindictive attitude of the government that wanted to help the builder. Sharma said the government had cheated the farmers on Dadri and Ansal land acquisition. Sharma said president of the Board Employees’ Union Chotelal Verma had been dismissed on the issue. He said the government was hiding details of the Dadri agreement and even refused make it public under the Right to Information Act. Accusing the government of protecting the interest of Reliance Energy Limited, Sharma said democratic rights of the people were being trampled and added that the land was given to the Ansals at throwaway price.
{{/usCountry}}Refuting the charges, leader of the House and Family Welfare Minister Ahmad Hasan said Anil Ambani had nothing to do with the government. He said there was no secret agreement with the REL. Hasan also blasted suspended SP MP and Jan Morcha Alliance convenor Raj Babbar for movement in Dadri. Parishad chairman Sukhram Singh Yadav, rejecting motion reserved his decision, on the matter.