Smriti Rakes Up Land Controversy Involving Rajiv Gandhi Trust In Amethi
17 January, Amethi
After raking up the issue of illegal land transfer of Samrat Cycle factory to the Trust controlled by Gandhi family, Union Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani today alleged that Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust has illegally occupied land in Jayas, which was originally acquired for an inter college in 1980.
Addressing a press conference here at the BHEL guest house before winding up here two-day tour to Amethi, she said.
“The land meant for an inter-college has been grabbed by the Rajiv Gandh trust which is unfortunate and shows the real face of them,” adding that at present a vocational skill development centre under Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust is running there.
“How has the land marked for college gone to a Trust,” she questioned. She further claimed that RTI query from District administration has proved that the land do not belong to Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust but still they are using it for their own purpose.
The land was allotted to the inter-college through Chakbandi but at present there is a board on the land that the Trust is running a vocational skill development centre there.
Ms Irani said she had met the Amethi District magistrate and have briefed him about demand of those farmers who have lost their land for Samrat cycle.
“The land has been now restored to UPSIDC. We want that the concerned land should now be returned back to the farmers. Will also write to UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav in this regard,” she said.
Yesterday on the opening day of her visit,Ms Irani said she would meet Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister over the Samrat cycle land issue.
Reacting sharply on the silence of Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi,who is the local MP of Amethi on Malda violence, the Union Minister said, “his silence on such issues is indicative of the politics he and his party adopts”.
However, commenting on Mr Gandhi’s allegation that NSA has been given too much power and that opposition is not consulted on issues of national security, she said, “petty politics should not be played on issue of national security and Rahul Gandhi has no expertise on the matter.”
When asked about the Aligarh Muslim University and Jamia Millia issue, the Union HRD Minister said ,”though the matter is subjudice but still these institutes are set under a secular framework. We also need to protect interests of Dalits and other deprived sections. Things are being done under constitutional frame.”
Meanwhile, the BJP leader assured the local Amethi people that she was concerned for the development of the area and she would be coming here just on a call from the people.
She also expressed concern that the IIIT (Amethi campus) has no facilities for the local youths.
“Rahul’s behaviour with Amethi is very bad even after terming the people of the area as his relatives and close to his heart,” she alleged.
Ms Irani said people have raised the issue of Pipri village effected by flooding from a local canal and said the Union government is seriously taking up the issue.
She also announced that several skill development centre’s will be opened in villages of Amethi very soon.
Ms Irani is slated to return back to New Delhi this afternoon after meeting the local BJP leaders.