The allotment of a prime plot in the city to actress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Hema Malini by the Maharashtra government for her dance academy at a throwaway price of Rs 70,000 on Friday kicked up a political storm, with the Congress accusing it of double standards and flouting procedures.
The BJP-led government, however, defended its decision with Housing Minister Prakash Mehta saying this was not for the first time that land was allotted to a cultural institution at a cheaper rate, recalling that cultural and academic bodies set up in memory of Congress leaders, including YB Chavan, had benefited from such a gesture. The state government has allotted 2,000 sqm land to Hema’s Natyvihar Kala Kendra.
According to the documents obtained under an RTI query, the actress has been allotted the land located in suburban Oshiwara at Rs 35 per sqm (total cost Rs 70,000) by the Mumbai Suburban District Collectorate. The market value of the land is estimated to be running into crores of rupees.
The plot in question is said to be originally reserved for a garden and was given to the BJP MP from Mathura for a pittance even as she keeps in possession a plot allotted to her earlier here.
“The government is indulging in double standards in the allocation of the plot. This government had earlier said that it will formulate a fresh policy on granting government land, which directly affects the state exchequer, but in the case of the BJP MP, no such procedure was followed,” said MPCC President Ashok Chavan.
Mehta, while defending the government’s decision, said the tradition of Maharashtra must be kept in mind. Asked about Hema being alloted a second plot when she has not returned the earlier one, as found by an RTI query, Mehta said he did not deal with that department.
He, however, said there had been so many cases when multiple plots have been alloted to one institution. Hema was not available for comments.