After the Supreme Court (SC) pulled up the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Haryana over amendments made in the Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLPA) of 1900, the Opposition parties have upped the ante against Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar.
The Congress leaders in the State have hit out at the BJP government questioning the objective behind the amendment and alleged the move was to benefit realtors and the mining mafia.
Party leaders said on Saturday that they would soon approach Haryana Governor Satyadeo Narain Arya urging him not to give his assent. They would also seek Mr. Khattar’s dismissal.
The Haryana Assembly on Wednesday retrospectively amended the PLPA 1900, by passing the Punjab Land Preservation (Haryana Amendment) Bill, 2019 – this amendment will pave way for construction in the ecologically sensitive areas of Aravali foothills and the Shivalik of the State.
Senior Congress leader and MLA Karan Dalal told The Hindu that party members would soon meet the Governor on the PLPA issue and would urge for his intervention in this sensitive matter.
The Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) – Haryana’s principal Opposition party — has demanded the immediate resignation of Mr. Khattar.
Party’s State president Ashok Arora said though during the recently concluded State Assembly session, legislators of the INLD had opposed the government’s move to bring in the proposed amendment to the PLPA.
“The Khattar government chose to ignore arguments and suggestions of the INLD, other political parties and environmentalists and went ahead with passing the amendment,” he said.
Diminishing forest cover
“During its tenure, the BJP has shown scant respect for the environment and ecology of the State by insensitively promoting builders and destroying forest cover. Haryana barely has a forest cover of about 3% of its area. That is why it is imperative that it is nursed properly so that ecological balance is maintained,” he added.
The SC on Friday had cautioned the Haryana government with contempt if it went ahead and implemented the PLP (Haryana Amendment) Act, 2019.
