We did not favour or acquire land for Vadra: Hooda

Dismissing allegations of irregularities in the DLF-Robert Vadra land deals, Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda today said that his government did not favour or acquire land for anyone and the issue was being raised to malign Congress and Gandhi family.

"We have not given an inch of land to anyone. People buy land among themselves and we give (Change of Land Use) license and there are no exceptions," Hooda said alluding to the Vadra-DFL land deals.

He was speaking at the Aaj Tak Agenda conclave here, where he was one of the speakers along with his Goan counterpart Manohar Parrikar and Hemant Soren of Jharkhand.

"The government has not acquired land (and given it to Vadra). It is (the dealing) between two parties... A and B. There has been no transaction (from the government side)... There has been no allotment from the government's side," he said.

Hooda added that the issue was raised to tarnish the image of the party and party President Sonia Gandhi.

"The issue has been raised because a special person who has close relationship with other special person... This politics has been done to malign them."

He said that the LUC is given by all governments and so did his.

"The dealing has been between two parties. We gave LUCs, and we give it to everyone. Every government gives," he said.

To this point, Parrikar said that the actual point in the whole case was the "conversion" of land use and if the government is "selective" then questions are raised.

Refusing the charges, Hooda said that his government was not selective in this matter.
"It is (submission) if the government is selective, but Haryana government has not been selective (in giving LUC)".

He added that government has marked out the area for various purposes. For example in Gurgaon, a certain area has been marked for urbanisation. If one's land falls in the area marked for commercial, residential or institutional area, then government gives LUC accordingly.