Dept seeks field report on Lovely Professional University 'land grab' row

Vishav Bharti

Chandigarh, August 1

The Department of Rural Development and Panchayats has sought a report from field officials following a news story in The Tribune that highlighted that Lovely Professional University (LPU) has allegedly grabbed panchayat land.

Revenue records to be checked

The Department of Rural Development and Panchayats wants to be sure about the facts before starting the legal proceedings. This is the reason the Kapurthala DDPO has been asked to check the revenue records and prepare the ground report. — Gurpreet Singh Khaira, Director, Rural Development and Panchayats

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Gurpreet Singh Khaira, Director, Rural Development and Panchayats, said: “The department wants to be sure about the facts before starting the legal proceedings. This is the reason the Kapurthala DDPO has been asked to check the revenue records and prepare the ground report.”

The anti-encroachment cell of the department has been told to help the Kapurthala DDPO in preparing the report.

The Tribune, in its August 1 edition, highlighted that LPU owned by AAP leader Ashok Mittal allegedly grabbed panchayat land in Hardaspur village of Kapurthala district, but the department was dragging its feet to reclaim the land.

The matter has sparked a political controversy, with Pradesh Congress Committee president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring today questioning the AAP government, particularly Minister for Panchayat and Rural Development Kuldeep Dhaliwal, for being silent on the matter. “Why is the government dumbfounded over the revelations?” he asked, adding “is it because university owner Ashok Mittal happens to be a Rajya Sabha member from the AAP”.