Land controversy: AAP demands Gujarat CM Anandiben Patel resignation

NEW DELHI: The AAP today demanded immediate resignation of Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel for a free and fair probe into the alleged irregularities in allocation of government land near Gir Lion Sanctuary to a company which has business links with her daughter Anar Patel.

The party also demanded clarification from Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the development allegedly took place when he was the Chief Minister of Gujarat.

AAP spokesperson Raghav Chadha said the probe also needs to done to ascertain whether forest norms were tweaked.

"We demand immediate resignation of Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel as without this there cannot be a free and fair probe into this matter.

"Several anomalies have come to light. What is the justification for giving the land to a wild-life resort and what was the cost at which it was given?" Chadha said.

Anandiben is facing allegations that in 2010 as Revenue Minister in the then Narendra Modi-government she had given a piece of land near Gir Lion Sanctuary at a "throwaway" price to a company linked to her daughter.

AAP leader Ashutosh claimed the Gujarat government, on the one hand, gave land at a "throwaway" price to a company linked to Anar Patel, while it was given at a higher price to a trust working for protection of cows.

"The Prime Minister should also give a clarification on the issue as the development had taken place when he was the Chief Minister of Gujarat and Anandiben Patel, the Revenue Minister," Ashutosh said.