Probe against Radhasoami Trust in MP

Bhopal, Mar 3 (UNI) The Madhya Pradesh government today informed the Assembly that a high-level committee was formed for inquiry into leasing of about 3,200 hectares of forest land, in Harda district, for 99 years to the Radhasoami Trust.

The committee would submit its report by June 30. Mr Rajesh Patel (Congress) raised the matter during question hour and was told by Forests Minister Vijay Shah that the allotment was made more than five decades back when this state was yet to be formed.

''The committee would probe into whether tribal rights were being violated by the allotment and whether lease rules and Forest Act were being followed,'' the Minister explained.

Demanding that the lease be annulled, Mr Patel alleged that the Trust encroached on 50,000 ha of surrounding forest land in Harda's Timarni tahsil. Meanwhile, several members demanded that the matter be probed by a house committee.

Ruling Bharatiya Janata Party member Manohar Lal Rathor placed a question mark on the Trust's working style and supported the house committee-related demand. Speaker Ishwardas Rohani urged the committee to hear both Mr Patel and Mr Rathor.

UNI PKJ-AC 1637