Ujjain (Madhya Pradesh): The news of the Bharatiya Kisan Sangh (BKS), a frontal organisation of the RSS, writing to the PM over the controversial land pooling scheme for the ‘Simhastha Spiritual City’ sent shock waves within the state government on Sunday.
Opposing the move of the state government to acquire about 2,400 hectares of land falling under the Simhastha camp sites in Ujjain to establish ‘Simhastha Spiritual City’ on it, the BKS has demanded that, instead of permanent acquisition of the proposed land, the government should take the land temporarily as per the age-old tradition.
The BKS leaders were reportedly asked not to be aggressive toward the state government over the issue. A political heavyweight in the state capital has reportedly contacted the top BKS leaders, informing them that senior administrative officials will soon be sent to Delhi to brief them about the scheme.
Meanwhile, BKS National Organising General Secretary Dinesh Kulkarni, who is overseeing the matter, reportedly stated that the organisation will soon finalise its strategy and remain committed to pursuing the farmers’ cause until a just and conclusive resolution is achieved.
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In the letter to the PM regarding the preparations of Simhastha Mahaparv-2028, BKS national general secretary Mohini Mohan Mishra reportedly said that discussions have been circulating under the name of the Ujjain Development Authority (UDA) regarding possible land acquisition.
Rumours suggest that the government may acquire all the land, develop portions of it for farmers under certain conditions, and construct permanent structures on the acquired plots.
There is uncertainty over the footfall. If permanent structures are built and the turnout exceeds expectations, crowd management could be a challenge. On the other hand, if the number of visitors is lower than expected, then land acquisition will result in losses to both farmers and the country. This uncertainty has left farmers in a state of confusion, with no clear direction as to what might happen next, said the letter.
The BKS put forth a set of recommendations as well. For better organisation of the Simhastha, instead of permanent construction, fairgrounds should be set up along the riverbanks as has been the tradition since ancient times.
The government should continue the process of acquiring land only temporarily, typically for two to three months during each Simhastha, instead of opting for permanent acquisition.
As the soil in the area is clayey, the government could acquire limited land to create roads, electricity and water pipelines, and sewage lines, similar to the temporary infrastructure developed during the Prayagraj (Uttar Pradesh) Maha Kumbh.
Any drainage system should be constructed underground to prevent waterlogging from affecting agricultural activities, enabling farmers to cultivate crops above it.
Adequate compensation should be provided to farmers for the period when their land cannot be used for cultivation, it said.
The BKS has emphasised that the government should engage in proper coordination and consultation with local landholding farmers before taking any decision in this regard.
State BKS president Kamal Singh Aanjana confirmed to the Free Press that a letter has been sent to the PM to intervene in the matter. According to him, a few months ago, a delegation of BKS functionaries met Chief Minister Mohan Yadav at Bhopal and handed over a memorandum to him regarding the land pooling scheme.
“The CM had sent us to the then Principal Secretary, Urban Development and Administration, Sanjay Shukla, but he was not able to explain the utility of the scheme. We also met UDA CEO Sandeep Kumar Soni many times, but he was not ready to understand the practical issues,” Aanjana said.
