Sibal stands firm on allotments in Noida

NEW DELHI: Union Minister Kapil Sibal stood his ground on the Noida land scam revelations on Monday, rubbishing the ‘draw of lots’ theory being propounded by some of the beneficiaries of the allotments.

“If the allotments were indeed made through a draw of lots then how is it that seven members of Flex industries who had given the same address, four Advocate Generals of UP and only SP MPs and MLA’s got plots? This is too much of a coincidence,” he said.

Referring to former CJI YK Sabharwal’s assertion that there was no wrong doing in the allotments, Sibal quoted the Allahabad High Court judgment that had cancelled the draw of lots, saying the entire process was a “complete farce” and had pointed out that “systematic fraud” was committed by holders of public office.

Professing his respect for the judiciary, Sibal clarified that he was not making any personal allegations against anyone. “The objection is not to six members of the family applying, even if 700 apply it doesn’t matter. What we are demanding is that the process should be fair and transparent,” he said.

Demanding a probe, Sibal said the issue was about public property being looted in UP. He said he had charged the Yadav administration of wrong-doing but had not levelled allegations against individuals.