Shimla, February 19
The Himachal Government today decided to cancel the 28-acre land lease made by the previous BJP regime in favour of Patanjali Yogpeeth Trust of Swami Ramdev at Sadhupal, near Kandaghat, in Solan district.

The decision was taken by the state Cabinet at a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh here today.

Highly placed sources said the issue was discussed at length by the Cabinet. Taking into consideration the report of an inquiry conducted by the Revenue Department, the Cabinet decided to cancel the lease.

The formal inauguration of the project is due this month.

Unperturbed by the inquiry ordered by Revenue Minister Kaul Singh into the land allotment, Swami Ramdev had decided to go ahead with the inauguration of the branch.

The allotment of the land had come under fire in 2010 itself, as then Opposition Congress had alleged that land worth Rs 35.4 crore had been given for a song for a nominal lease amount of mere Re 1 for 99 years.

The trust has completed the construction at this site and the centre can inaugurated in the near future. Palatial buildings have come up at the site and a gate leading to the place is locked.