Jaipur: Taking on the state govt over demolition of 440 houses in the name of removing encroachments in Jalore’s Odwada village, former chief minister Ashok Gehlot on Thursday said the govt and local administration should look at the issue in a humane manner. He added that he would provide legal assistance to the victims’ families in the matter. Jalore Lok Sabha candidate Vaibhav Gehlot also posted on ‘X’, saying the action had shown the insensitive attitude of the administration. He said due to lack of effective advocacy by the state govt, the high court’s decision may have gone against the villagers, but he has taken legal opinion and decided to approach the Supreme Court on behalf of victims’ families. State Cong president Govind Singh Dotasra formed a state-level committee to inquire into the incident. Cong general secretary Swarnim Chaturvedi said the committee members will reach Jalore on Friday to meet the affected villagers. They will prepare a factual report of the incident and present it to the Pradesh Congress Committee. Vaibhav Gehlot said he will also travel separately to Jalore on Friday to meet the villagers.Former CM Ashok Gehlot wrote on ‘X’, “It is not appropriate for the administration to use force to demolish more than 400 houses in the name of removing encroachment in Odwada, Ahore, Jalore. This is a matter related to poor families. The administration should have given adequate time to these families so that they could find a legal solution. The state government and administration should look at the issue on humanitarian grounds. I have spoken with Jalore collector in this regard. “In the past too, there have been many such cases in which the decision of the high court or the Supreme Court came in favor of the victims’ families. There was such an incident in Sikar’s Patwari Ka Bas village in which in HC order it was decided to demolish the house. However, it was considered wrong in another order, and the affected families were issued pattas during our government’s tenure. The administration should wait for all legal options to be completed and then take any action,” he added. His son Vaibhav Gehlot wrote on ‘X’, “In Odwada village of Ahore, 440 houses are being demolished in the name of removing encroachments even although these families have been living there for years. The administration is citing the HC order for this, whereas these houses were saved through effective advocacy during the Congress govt. Due to lack of effective advocacy, the court decision has gone against the villagers. Today, during the action to remove encroachments, the insensitive attitude of the administration has come to light.” “I have spoken to the Jalore collector and requested him to think sensitively and file an appeal in favor of these poor people against HC decision. They should help them in providing justice by stopping this action until the decision of the Supreme Court comes,” he added. “After getting information about the situation from the Jalore district collector, I have taken legal opinion regarding the action being taken on the orders of the HC. He said the next hearing of the matter in the high court is on May 20. Before this, the administration will have to inform the HC about removing the encroachments,” he added.
