Prime common land in Mohali leased to Punjab Health Minister Balbir Sidhu for a pittance

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 5

A gaushala registered at Health Minister Balbir Sidhu’s Mohali address is in the eye of a storm for getting over 10 acres of prime land in a Mohali village.

While Balbir Sidhu has denied any wrongdoing, social activists are alleging foul play. According to information, the land belonging to the Balongi village panchayat has been allotted on lease for 33 years to Bal Gopal Gau Welfare Society, which is registered at Sidhu’s Phase 7 house. It is alleged that the land has been leased at the rate of Rs 25,000 per acre annually, while the market rate is much higher.

Rs 100-cr land usurped, order CBI probe: SAD

• The SAD on Thursday demanded a CBI inquiry into the land “scam”, stating the minister had usurped prime land worth Rs100 crore in the name of a trust headed by him
• Demanding immediate cancellation of the trust deed, former minister Bikram Singh Majithia asked for a probe into the allotment of the prime land by Rural Development and Panchayats Minister Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa

RTI activist Parvinder Singh Kittna has written to Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh and demanded a vigilance probe into the matter. Kittna said it was a clear

case of grabbing village panchayat land.

Another activist Satnam Daun said it was not the issue of only one village, but land sharks were eying prime land of several villages in Mohali. He alleged the panchayats were being forced to pass resolutions to hand over the land to private individuals.

Have done nothing wrong

I had promised in my election manifesto to make Mohali stray cattle-free. Have I built a house there? I am spending from my own pocket to feed the cows. —Balbir Singh Sidhu, Health Minister

The state Health Minister denied any wrongdoing and said he had been working for the welfare of people. “I had promised in my election manifesto to make Mohali stray cattle-free. Have I built a house there? I am spending from my own pocket to feed the cows,” he said.

When asked that while there was already a government-run cattle shed in the district, why he felt the need to get another one registered in his name, Balbir Sidhu said the cowshed had failed and a large number animals had died of hunger there.