Khattar cornered by Abhay on Uddar Gagan volte-face

CHANDIGARH: Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar found himself cornered when leader of Opposition in assembly Abhay Chautala (INLD) on Tuesday confronted him by seeking to know as to why he made a flip-flop by not referring two land-related matters — Uddar Gagan case adjudicated by the Supreme Court in May 2016 and acquisition and release of land in Sonepat — to the CBI for a probe.

The CM on March 13 had told the assembly that both the matters were being referred to the CBI. However, he made a climb down and instead appointed a retired judge of the Punjab and Haryana high court justice RS Madan to inquire.

Under fire, Khattar on Tuesday sat quietly and did not respond to Abhay’s queries even as the leader of the Opposition cajoled him to reiterate his March 13 commitment. “Why did you make somersault? Please answer.

Appointing a retired judge instead of referring the matter to CBI carries no value. You need to reiterate your commitment right here to restore the confidence of the people,’’ an insistent Abhay said. Abhay said Khattar’s flipflop amounted to the contempt of the House. “There cannot be a bigger contempt than the leader of the House turning his back on a commitment made on the floor of the House,’’ said Chautala much to the discomfiture of the chief minister.

THE UDDAR GAGAN CASE

About 850 acres were proposed to be acquired in 2002 for residential and commercial sectors in Rohtak by Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA). However, the award was passed for about 422 acres in April 2005. A realtor, Uddar Gagan Properties Limited, in March 2005 entered into collaboration agreements with some farmers whose land was under acquisition for development of a colony.

The developer had applied for a licence to develop a colony on land covering about 280 acres. The licences were granted by the town and country planning director in June 2006 and corresponding land was released from acquisition. The licences were addressed to the owners but remitted to the builder. This was followed by execution of sale deeds in favour of the builder through power-of-attorney holder of the land owners.

Upholding the land acquisition process, an SC in its May 13, 2006 judgment ordered that land will vest in HUDA free from all encumbrances.