Rajiv Trust asked to vacate Amethi land

LUCKNOW: Close on heels of the Lucknow Municipal Corporation’s (LMC) notice to Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee (UPCC) to provide documents proving ownership of UPCC headquarters, the district administration of Amethi has asked Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust to immediately vacate its 1.0360-hectare land in Amethi.

In his order dated August 4, 2017, the sub divisional magistrate Tiloi (Amethi) has asked the tehsildar to ensure that the land was vacated immediately. The SDM’s order comes after a prolonged administrative and legal process. The land was initially registered in the name of a vocational training centre.

“A copy of this order is being sent to tehsildar/assistant collector Tiloi that he will ensure removal of unauthorised possession from the land owned by the state government,” said SDM Ashk Kumar Shukla in his order.

“District administration is working under pressure from union minister for textiles Smriti Irani who lost Lok Sabha election from the seat in 2014. She has not been able to accept the fact that the Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust is working for the people’s welfare in Amethi,” said Amethi district Congress committee president Yogendra Mishra on phone.

The Congress and BJP had had a war of words after Irani had raised the issue concerning the ownership of land. Irani had also sent a letter to chief minister Yogi Adityanath alleging ‘misuse’ of Sanjay Gandhi Hospital Guest House for political purposes.

As per information, the first notice to the trust was issued by district development officer (DDO) O P Pandey on March 27, which was followed by notices from chief development officer Om Prakash on April 10 and Shukla on April 28.

District administration is working under pressure from Smriti Irani who lost Lok Sabha election from the seat in 2014;She has not been able to accept the fact that the Trust is working for people’s welfare in Amethi YOGENDRA MISHRA, president, Amethi district Congress committee

The notices asked the trust to produce documents pertaining to the ownership or use of the land. An officer said the trust did not respond to the notices.

A self help group (SHG) member Kiran Singh had approached the Allahabad High Court on the issue earlier and the SDM issued orders thereafter.

Meanwhile, the UPCC has sought time from the LMC for filing reply to the notice about ownership of Nehru Bhawan building housing the UPCC headquarters since 1979.

The UPCC has sought certified copies of documents submitted by a local businessman claiming to be owner of the Nehru Bhawan. UPCC has claimed that as UPCC president the then president Mohsina Kidwai had bought the building in an auction in 1979. As Prime Minister late Indira Gandhi had inaugurated UPCC headquarters in the building on December 3, 2017.