HIMACHAL GOVERNMENT TO PROBE LAND ALLOTMENT TO RAMDEV IN SOLAN

UNDER LENS Previous BJP govt leased out 20 acres to yoga guru for `17 lakh for 99 years in 2010 to set up a herbal garden, branch of his Patanjali Yogpeeth

SHIMLA: The Himachal Pradesh government has ordered a probe into the land leased to yoga guru Ramdev’s Bharat Swabhiman Trust at Sadhupul in Solan district.

In an interaction with HT in Shimla, chief minister Virbhadra Singh said, “I hold no grudges against Ramdev or his trust but the land allotted to him was transferred in a wrong way, hence the probe.”

The previous BJP government headed by Prem Kumar Dhumal had leased out 20 acres at Kehlog village along the Kandaghat-Chail state highway to Ramdev for `17.31 lakh for 99 years in 2010 to set up a herbal garden and a branch of his Patanjali Yogpeeth. On behalf of the trust, the agreement was signed by Acharaya Balkrishan, an aide of Ramdev and a trustee at Patanjali Yogpeeth.

The CM said the state cabinet had approved a different land for Ramdev but in reality a prime piece of land at Sadhupul was transferred to his trust.

He added that his government was getting the matter probed by the state anti-corruption and vigilance bureau.

“The official who connived to wrongfully allot the land to Ramdev will be taken to task,” Virbhadra warned.

It has also come to the notice, Virbhadra said, that a few BJP leaders, including former ministers, bought plots surrounding the one leased to Ramdev. “The motive was to sell the land they bought at higher rates once the herbal garden comes up,” he alleged.

However, three months after coming to power, the Virbhadra government revoked the lease on February 19, 2013, and directed the Solan deputy commissioner to take possession of the land. Three days after the cancellation of the lease, a team of Solan district officials took possession of the land.

In less than a week, Ramdev moved the Himachal high court against the government’s action. On February 28, 2013, the court directed the state government to maintain status quo on the land.

The land originally belonged to the erstwhile royals of Patiala and had been donated to late prime minister Indira Gandhi, who later gave it to the Himachal government for setting up a holiday home for children.