The Crossbill Team
The Congress has been asked to pay an additional Rs 4.03 lakh for the use of government land in Indore ahead of Rahul Gandhi’s “Chhatron Ki Goonj” programme scheduled for September 19. The Indore Development Authority (IDA) said part of the allotted site had been used before the officially permitted lease period, The Indian Express reported.
The IDA had allotted around 12,000 square metres of land near the Regional Park to the Indore city Congress committee on a temporary lease from September 17 to September 19. According to a letter issued by the authority on September 16, a site inspection found that 4,800 square metres of the plot had been in use since September 14.
The authority said the additional use of the land for three days attracted a charge of Rs 4,03,270. The Congress had earlier deposited Rs 10.08 lakh for the three-day temporary lease.
In its communication to Indore city Congress president Chintu Chouksey, the IDA referred to the original terms of allotment and said the land could be used only during the stipulated period. It also cautioned that any occupation beyond September 19 would invite separate charges under the applicable rules.
The latest demand followed a complaint by BJP state spokesperson Rakesh Singh Yadav, who alleged that the Congress had begun using the government property before the authorised period. Yadav said the issue concerned payment for the use of government land and not the programme itself.
Chouksey has disputed the additional demand and alleged that the administration was acting under pressure from BJP leaders. He has accused the administration of functioning as a “puppet” of the ruling party.
The additional payment demand comes amid an ongoing dispute over the venue for Gandhi’s student outreach programme. The Congress had initially planned to hold “Chhatron Ki Goonj” at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, but permission was not granted and the event was subsequently shifted to September 19.
The civic authorities cited existing High Court directions governing the use of the stadium, while Congress leaders alleged that the denial was intended to restrict Gandhi’s interaction with students.
The party subsequently secured the Regional Park site after depositing the temporary lease amount and began preparations there. The latest disagreement over the additional Rs 4.03 lakh has now added another point of contention ahead of the September 19 programme.
The IDA had allotted around 12,000 square metres of land near the Regional Park to the Indore city Congress committee on a temporary lease from September 17 to September 19. According to a letter issued by the authority on September 16, a site inspection found that 4,800 square metres of the plot had been in use since September 14.
The authority said the additional use of the land for three days attracted a charge of Rs 4,03,270. The Congress had earlier deposited Rs 10.08 lakh for the three-day temporary lease.
In its communication to Indore city Congress president Chintu Chouksey, the IDA referred to the original terms of allotment and said the land could be used only during the stipulated period. It also cautioned that any occupation beyond September 19 would invite separate charges under the applicable rules.
The latest demand followed a complaint by BJP state spokesperson Rakesh Singh Yadav, who alleged that the Congress had begun using the government property before the authorised period. Yadav said the issue concerned payment for the use of government land and not the programme itself.
Chouksey has disputed the additional demand and alleged that the administration was acting under pressure from BJP leaders. He has accused the administration of functioning as a “puppet” of the ruling party.
The additional payment demand comes amid an ongoing dispute over the venue for Gandhi’s student outreach programme. The Congress had initially planned to hold “Chhatron Ki Goonj” at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, but permission was not granted and the event was subsequently shifted to September 19.
The civic authorities cited existing High Court directions governing the use of the stadium, while Congress leaders alleged that the denial was intended to restrict Gandhi’s interaction with students.
The party subsequently secured the Regional Park site after depositing the temporary lease amount and began preparations there. The latest disagreement over the additional Rs 4.03 lakh has now added another point of contention ahead of the September 19 programme.
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