RAJ KUMAR
Ranchi, March 14: The MP-MLA court in Jharkhand sub capital Dumka acquitted Poraiyahat MLA Pradeep Yadav in a case involving his agitation against ‘forceful’ land acquisition for Adani Power Plant due to lack of evidence.
This is the fourth case in which the Congress legislator was acquitted. After this development there are three more cases still pending against him in the matter. The cases had landed him in jail for almost 6 months.
Yadav confirmed the development saying he expects his acquittal in other three cases also. “Satyamev Jayate (truth always remains victorious),” he said.
The case arose after Yadav swung into action against the then BJP government after Adani Power Plant started work to set up a power plant in Godda and the government allegedly acquired land of 12 villages ignoring the land acquisition process. It was being alleged that the then BJP government reduced the land price to benefit Adani.
Villagers organized under the leadership of Yadav pointed out loopholes in the land acquisition process and intensified their agitation. According to them, under the Land Acquisition Act 2013, until 80% of the land owners of the village are ready to give their land on their own, their land should not be forcibly taken away from them.
They pointed out that the price of the land acquired for Adani by the BJP government of the then state was Rs 60 lakh per acre while during acquisition it was reduced to Rs 3 lakh per acre overnight depriving farmers from real compensation.
