New Delhi:
As Rahul Gandhi marches through UP in protest against Mayawati's policies of land acquisition from farmers, the Supreme Court has ruled that in some parts of the state, farmers are being swindled.
The court today agreed with the Allahabad High Court which said 156 hectares in the Shaberi Village in Greater Noida had been taken from farmers for industrial projects, but was actually being sold to commercial developers for high-profitable apartment complexes.
The Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority has been fined 10 lakhs by the Supreme Court. The judges said, "Everything is meticulously planned. ..it is a brazen overreach of the judicial process. The authority has to act in public interest but what it did was to serve private builders' interest. You don't understand the psyche of a farmer. Land is his mother ."
Builders who had signed on for residential projects in the area include Amrapali and Supertech. (
Read: Home buyers in Greater Noida worried over court order)
Yesterday, the Supreme Court reprimanded the UP government with harsh language. "When people protest against acquisition of their land, men are arrested and women are raped." That is a charge levied in May by Mr Gandhi when he first visited the twin villages of Bhatta-Parsaul, the epicenter of farmer's protests against the government. On a weekend in May, 4 people were killed as farmers and the police clashed. (
Read: After night at farmer's home, Rahul's yatra continues)The Supreme Court yesterday also rebuked the builders who tried to argue that they were constructing residential complexes for the needy.
"Look at your own brochure. It is saying about swimming pool, spa, tennis court, badminton court, beauty parlour, ayurvedic massage etc. All these are for poor people?" the two judges asked.