The Rajasthan government has ordered a probe into land allotted to Sangh Parivar mouthpiece Pathey Kann, allegedly at a throwaway price, during the previous BJP government. According to the government, the allotment has been put on stay till the completion of the probe. This is the second such case when the Sangh Parivar is facing the music over land allotment.
The Jaipur Development Authority (JDA) has asked its officials to examine the land allotted to Pathey Kann magazine published by an RSS-affiliated organisation. The previous BJP government had allotted the land to the mouthpiece in its last days before the state went to elections.
The JDA had given 1,485 square metres to the Pathey Kann on concessional rates on July 27, 2008 in a posh locality of Malviya Nagar in Jaipur. The publisher of the magazine had deposited Rs 44 lakhs for the land and the JDA was quick in issuing an allotment letter. The JDA was given the land in Rs 46 lakhs while the prevailing rate was estimated, as per the market, to be Rs 1 crore per square metre. The government action has annoyed the Sangh Parivar. Pathey Kann manager Manakchand criticised the government move, saying it was wrong to question the allotment.
The BJP also lashed out at the Congress government and termed it politically motivated. Pathey Kann has a wide circulation in Rajasthan.