Congress pans Modi over land rights of Sikh farmers in Gujarat

Wading into the simmering controversy over Gujarat government's action to freeze land of Sikh farmers in the state, opposition Congress today said the BJP strongman was "lying" on the issue of displacement of farmers by holding erstwhile Congress government responsible.
The state government had started issuing notices to freeze land owned by non-Gujarati farmers in 2003 and started taking their possession since 2010.
Modi had alleged that his government's action was based on the Bombay Tenancy and Agricultural Lands Act, 1958, which he said was passed by the then Congress government.
Taking strong exception to Modi's claim, state unit Congress president Arjun Modhwadia today said, "Modi, who is known for his lies, is once again telling lies that former Congress government formed the policy to deprive non-Gujarati farmers to own land in the state".

Modhwadia said he had written a letter to Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal mentioning the "lies" of Modi on the issue of displacement of Sikh farmers from Kutch region in the state.
"I have written a letter to the Punjab chief minister and apprised him in full details that how his Gujarat counterpart is lying on the issue," Modhwadia told reporters here.

He alleged that Badal, whose party SAD is a constituent of NDA, was "siding" with Modi on the issue without verifying facts and has hurt sentiments of Sikh farmers. "I hope after going through my letter, the Punjab chief minister will apologise to Sikh farmers," he added.

Badal yesterday said that the then Congress government in 1973 had released a circular on the issue and now its leaders were shedding "crocodile tears" for the farmers.
The controversy gathered steam today with several Congress MPs from Punjab and Haryana approaching Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Delhi to convey fears of displacement of Sikh farmers from Kutch region.
"The misunderstanding has been created because of an ordinance, issued 50 years back by then Congress government and by the interpretation of a circular of 1973," Modi had said in a statement.