BJP hopes to gain from land law

CHANDIGARH: Haryana’s ruling BJP hopes that the uproar over the amendment to the Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLPA) would work in its favour in the upcoming polls, despite the opposition calling the move a scam and the Supreme Court staying its implementation.

The state government plans to project its decision to change the land law as a people-centric move and has decided to pursue the matter in the apex court. It maintains that the 100-year-old law had an impact on around 25% of the state’s area and had become a hurdle in providing basic infrastructure in 10 districts.

With environmentalists warning the amendment would allow for mining and construction in the Aravalli range, the Congress, INLD, AAP and other opposition groups are set rake up the issue further in the run-up to the polls. The BJP expects corruption to be a key poll issue, but the opposition to suffer more since several of their leaders are facing corruption cases.