Cong accuses Govt of skirting queries

The main opposition in the State assembly, Congress on Thursday alleged that the Government is trying to avoid responding to queries related to compensation to peasants for land acquisition.

Raising the issue of acquisition of land belonging to farmers for construction of a national highway in Rewa's Gudh Nagar Parishad (city council) during the Question Hour, Sunderlal Tiwari of Congress said the land located in the city council is being purchased on price equivalent in rural areas.

He said that compensation should be provided in accordance to the legislation enacted by the previous United Progressive Alliance regime and demanded that the officials responsible should be punished.

While stressing that the query pertained to the Revenue Department and the Public Works Department, Urban Development and Housing Minister Maya Singh said that the legislation concerned was not applicable on national highways.

However, the member read out rule book issued by the Centre. When Singh reiterated that the question concerned another department, Leader of the Opposition Ajay Singh said that the Minister should have returned the question to another department. Several Congress members alleged that the regime was trying to avoid an answer.

In the meantime, Revenue Minister Umashankar Gupta tried to provide an explanation but Tiwari alleged that the Urban Development and Housing Department did not prepare enough and that the Government is adopting a dictatorial attitude.

In view of the deadlock, Speaker Sitasaran Sharma directed him that the matter be raised through some other rule and continued the proceedings.