Court asks Rajiv Gandhi foundation to return land

Lucknow: In what seems to be a major setback to Congress vice-president and Amethi MP, Rahul Gandhi,  an Amethi revenue court, on Wednesday,  ordered return of the 65.57 acre land bought by the Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust to the Uttar Pradesh State Industrial Development Corporation (UPSIDC).

Gauriganj sub-divisional Magistrate Vandita Srivastava has passed the order. The order comes three days after Union HRD minister Smirti Irani raised the issue at a public meeting in Amethi. The minister had accused the Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust of buying the land that was initially acquired from farmers on the promise of setting up a bicycle factory and providing employment in the area.

The revenue court order questioned the deal through which the land in Kauhar village, originally belonging to UPSIDC, was transferred in the name of the Trust. Asked about the order, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi said the trust “has explained itself very very clearly”.

“It runs a self-help group system that is the largest in Uttar Pradesh. They have created SHGs for over 1.4 million women. So Mrs Irani should check these details before she says something,” he said.