Journalism of Courage
Terming the move “irrational and anti-people,” senior Congress leader and former health minister Balbir Singh Sidhu vowed that “the Congress will fight at every level to get the proposal scrapped”Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal leaders strongly criticised the Punjab Mandi Board’s decision to sell the 12-acre ultra-modern fruit and vegetable market in Mohali’s Phase 11 to the Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority (PUDA).
Terming the move “irrational and anti-people,” senior Congress leader and former health minister Balbir Singh Sidhu vowed that “the Congress will fight at every level to get the proposal scrapped”.
Strongly opposing the proposal, SAD leader Paramjit Singh Kahlon said, “The mandi was developed with a long-term vision for farmers and traders, but the government’s short-sighted financial desperation is jeopardising the state’s growth. The SAD stands firmly with farmers, traders and labourers, and will ensure the mandi is not sacrificed for the government’s cash-hungry policies.”
Sidhu pointed out, “The Mandi Board last year auctioned shops in this market. Now, when traders have started their businesses, the Board suddenly wants to return their money with a 6 per cent interest to transfer the land to the PUDA at the collector’s rates. This will ruin the livelihood of traders, farmers and labourers dependent on the mandi.”
Calling the decision “a violation of the 2013 Land Acquisition Act,” the Congress leader said, “Land acquired for a specific project must be returned to its original owners if not used for the intended purpose.”
Attacking the AAP government, Sidhu alleged, “The government is selling Punjab’s future for its survival after taking Rs 2,500 crore from the Housing and Urban Development Department and Rs 1,000 crore from Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA).”
Sidhu said the Congress would block the move in court and on the ground.
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