M A I N   N E W S

Kejriwal now sees Vadra, DLF, Haryana Govt nexus
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 9
Indian Against Corruption (IAC) member Arvind Kejriwal today sought to red-flag a land deal that allegedly favoured Robert Vadra and DLF in Gurgaon and demanded the Haryana Government publish a white paper on all land released by the state government to the realty major.

Kejriwal alleged that in 2007, the Bhupinder Singh Hooda Government had allotted 30 acres to DLF to develop a Special Economic Zone through DLF SEZ Private Holdings Ltd. In 2008, North India IT Parks Pvt Ltd, a company of Vadra, acquired almost 50 per cent of its shareholding and subsequently sold back to the DLF Group in 2009.

The Haryana government's decision was reversed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the IAC member said. He distributed excerpts of the judgement that read: "The aforesaid facts alone are enough to establish the nexus of M/s DLF with the government to grab property in question....there was a nexus between the government and the respondent..."

The anti-corruption activist sought to know what role was played by Vadra, son-in-law of Congress president Sonia Gandhi, in that one year when DLF SEZ was in his control. The fresh accusations against Vadra led to a bout of sparring between the Congress and the BJP. The Congress questioned the veracity of the documents circulated by the IAC. The BJP demanded a comprehensive probe into the deals.

Kerjriwal also charged the Haryana Government had granted favours by giving DLF 350 acres, acquired for development purpose. Of the 350 acres, he said, the Haryana Urban Development Authority owned 75.98 acres while 275 acres was held by Haryana State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (HSIIDC), which cannot be used for non-forest purpose and.

Of the 275 acres of land with 91.97 acres was forest land covered under Punjab Land Preservation Act and cannot be used for non-forest purpose, he said. He said the state government had given this land to DLF without getting permissions from Central and state government authorities or making environmental impact assessment.

The latest IAC charge came a week after he raised questions about Vadra and DLF connection. The IAC rejected as a "bunch of lies'' by DLF that said it has not given unsecured loans.

The white paper, he said, should contain details of land released by Haryana Government in favour of the DLF, Panchayat, Government, HSIIDC lands transferred to the real estate giant, the increase Floor Area ration to DLF companies and change in land use permissions granted to it.

While the Congress said Kejriwal was indulging in these charges for publicity, it called to question the veracity of the documents circulated by the IAC. Party spokesman Raashid Alvi said it was for the Haryana Government to respond.

Hooda Govt refutes charges
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 9
Responding to allegations of Arvind Kejriwal that the Congress government in Haryana acted as the "agent of the DLF", the state government today claimed that no favours were extended to the realty giant for twin projects in Gurgaon.

"All permissions to the DLF for the setting up of hospital had been given according to rules. In fact, no land has been released in the past 10 years," said TC Gupta, Director General of Town and Country Planning Department, Haryana Government, while addressing a press conference here tonight.

The land had been released to East India Hotels Limited more than 16 years ago and the permission was granted to it to sell land to DLF Limited "after following due process of law". "No land belonging to the state government or the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) was allotted or transferred to either DLF Limited or East India Hotels Limited," he asserted.