BJP MLA opposes UP government Bill on Nazul land: ‘We are telling poor families to get out’

Bajpai, 40, the first-time MLA from Allahabad (North), however, won thumping appreciation from the opposition benches.

Under the Uttar Pradesh Nazul Property Bill, 2024, Nazul land – land owned by the government but often not directly administered as state property — in the state can no longer be converted into private ownership. Any court proceedings or applications requesting the transfer of full ownership of Nazul land to private individuals or institutions will be cancelled and automatically rejected. In case, payments have been made in anticipation of such ownership changes, the amounts will be refunded with interest calculated at the Marginal Cost of Funds Based Lending Rate (MCLR) set by the State Bank of India from the date of deposit. The government may choose to extend the leases of current leaseholders of Nazul land, provided they are in good standing, regularly paying rent, and have not violated lease terms, the Bill stated.

Speaking in the Assembly, Bajpai said: “…If the government takes one or two (properties), nothing will change. But I am talking about those who live in one or two-room in the slums. In Prayagraj, they are called ‘Sagar Pesha’. This term ‘Sagar Pesha’ has come from the British Raj era. The British gave space to their working staff to live near their bungalows and called them ‘Shagird Pesha’ (followers in service).”

“These families are living there since the time of the British rule… over 100 years ago… On one hand, we are giving houses to the poor under the PM Awas Yojna, and on the other hand, we are telling thousands of families to get out. We are taking the land. Ye nyaysangat nahi hai (This is not lawful),” Bajpai added.

“I met a homemaker whose house is located on hardly sau gaj (100 yards) area. She said, what the government will get of this sau gaj land… Our top leadership wants that the property rights of the people should be clear. Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi has also spoken many a time to bring a law to bring clarity in property rights and intellectual property rights,” the ruling party MLA said.

As he continued to speak on the “adverse impact” of the Nazul Property Bill on the poor and kept receiving thumping support from the Opposition, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Suresh Khanna stood up and told Bajpai, “Aap samajh nahi rahe ho. Pahle padh toh lo (You are not getting it. First, read it).”

Amid chaos from both the treasury and opposition benches, Bajpai concluded by saying, “There should be a provision in the law that those possessing Nazul land and where the poor live, they should get a chance to get these lands converted to freehold.”

Another BJP MLA from Prayagraj district, Sidharth Nath Singh, also flagged the Bill, saying his suggestions should be taken into consideration. Singh said that those with bonafide ownership of Nazul land should get their lease renewed.

Samajwadi Party chief whip Kamal Akhtar, Congress MLA Aradhana Mishra and Jansatta Dal leader Raghuraj Pratap Singh also criticised the Bill and demanded that it should be sent to the Select Committee.

The Nazul land Bill, which the government had promulgated as an ordinance earlier this year, was passed by the Assembly.

State Capital Region (SCR) Bill passed

Lucknow: The state Assembly on Wednesday passed the Uttar Pradesh State Capital Region and Other Regional Development Authorities (Formation) Bill, 2024, which aims to establish a State Capital Region akin to the National Capital Region (NCR) encompassing Lucknow and its neighboring districts — Unnao, Hardoi, Sitapur, Raebareli, and Barabanki.

The Bill aims to establish the UP State Capital Regional Development Authority and other regional development authorities.

The Regional Development Authority will collaborate with relevant development authorities, corporations, local bodies, and various government departments to create a comprehensive regional plan, the Bill said.  ENS