Tug of war over compensation issue

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, JULY 22.

The issue of enhanced land compensation for farmers of Delhi has turned into a ``tug of war'' between leaders in the Delhi Congress(I). A virtual race has started among them to take credit for getting the rates increased. But there is only one stumbling block -- the Union Urban Development Minister, Mr. Jagmohan.

The Delhi Government led by the Chief Minister, Ms. Sheila Dikshit, had announced a hike from Rs. 16 lakhs to Rs. 23 lakhs for land acquisition during a Kisan Rally on February 25 at the Ramlila Grounds. Subsequently, it was passed by the Delhi Cabinet on June 21. But at the eleventh hour, a missive from Mr. Jagmohan to the Lt-Governor, Mr. Vijai Kapoor, sealed its fate and everything was frozen. No hike, said Mr. Jagmohan, questioning the competence of the Delhi Government to announce the rates without the approval of the Centre.

This gave an opportunity for leaders within the Congress(I) to cash on the situation and score political points. The first to lead the crusade was the former Outer Delhi MP, Mr. Sajjan Kumar, who roped in the Bawana MLA, Mr. Surinder Kumar, considered to be close to Mr. Sajjan Kumar's arch rival and Speaker, Chaudhary Prem Singh. This was termed as a calculated move aimed at showing Chaudhary Prem Singh in poor light.

Probably tipped off by one of the Cabinet colleagues, that a decision was in the offing on the issue, Mr. Sajjan Kumar decided to stage a dharna at Raj Niwas to take the credit and give an impression that it was under his pressure that the land rates were being hiked.

But to his disappointment, his agitation threat did not have much affect, as the letter from Mr. Jagmohan, deferred a decision on the issue. But what surprised observers was that the same Mr. Sajjan Kumar had approached the party president, Ms. Sonia Gandhi, a month ago alleging that the Delhi Government was not taking a decision on the issue. The very same person a month later was staging a dharna in support of the Delhi Government.

Then these leaders changed their stand and started harping that the Delhi Government was well within its right to hike the rates and Mr. Jagmohan had no right to stand in the way. The DPCC(I) president, Mr. Subhash Chopra, also jumped into the fray and led a dharna at Jantar Mantar today to protest against the interference of Mr. Jagmohan. But they failed to understand that if the Delhi Government was within its right to hike the rates then why were they holding a dharna against Mr. Jagmohan.

Not only this, no leader including the Chief Minister has been able to explain why the Delhi Government is not unilaterally hiking the rates. In fact, these spot agitations are being termed as an exercise to defend their own position. And if the party feels so strong about the issue, why has it not been able to launch a coordinated plan of action against the Centre. The fact is that everyone wants to claim credit for virtually doing nothing.

Summing up the situation, the Lok Janshakti Party vice-president, Mr. Ramvir Singh Bidhuri, said it was all a drama by the Congress(I) and its Government. The Finance Minister, Mr. Mahinder Singh Saathi, has stated that it was a transfer subject and the Delhi Government could hike the rates without Central clearance. ``This has been my point from the beginning. My stand has been vindicated. I have been maintaining that Delhi Government is competent to increase the rates but was not doing it for political reasons. This has exposed the real face of the Sheila Dikshit Government which is befooling the farmers. Unfortunately, the local party unit and senior leaders were lending her support,'' Mr. Bidhuri added.

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