New Delhi: Much to the surprise of the ruling party legislators of Uttar Pradesh, Harshvardhan Bajpai, the BJP MLA from Allahabad north, took on his own government on Wednesday (July 31) as he spoke against his government’s Bill that prevents conversion of Nazul Land into private freehold.
The opposition gave a thumping appreciation to Bajpai, even as BJP leader and Uttar Pradesh Parliamentary Affairs Minister Suresh Khanna kept urging Bajpai to read the Bill first, reported The Indian Express.
As per the Uttar Pradesh Nazul Property Bill, 2024, Nazul land – land owned by the government but often not directly administered as state property – across the state can no longer be converted into private ownership.
“If the government takes one or two (properties), nothing will change. But I am talking about those who live in one or two-room in the slums. In Prayagraj, they are called ‘Sagar Pesha’. This term ‘Sagar Pesha’ has come from the British Raj era. The British gave space to their working staff to live near their bungalows and called them ‘Shagird Pesha’ (followers in service),” said Bajpai, speaking against the Bill, reported The Indian Express.
“These families are living there since the time of the British rule… over 100 years ago… On one hand, we are giving houses to the poor under the PM Awas Yojna, and on the other hand, we are telling thousands of families to get out. We are taking the land. Ye nyaysangat nahi hai (This is not lawful),” Bajpai added.