After Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of the Jewar International Airport last year, the BJP is touting the Jewar assembly constituency as a development model of ‘Sabka Saath, Saath Vikas’ in this election.
Though the opposition had in the past tried to stir up a controversy over land acquisition and is planning to revive it in this election, the issue seems dead with locals who have supported the BJP’s development agenda.
With the announcement of the Jewar airport, the price of land went up in the surrounding villages, who are hoping for employment for their future generations. With the proposed metro line for the airport, villagers say they believe it will bring more investment and development to the area.
Airport can be a game changer
As Brahmdev Sharma, one of the residents of the Sabota village that is near Jewar Airport site, puts it, “Sabse bada mudda Jewar Airport rahega ji chunav mein. Bahut bada farak padega. Airport en jeet ka adhaar banega. (Jewar Airport will be the main poll plank. It will make a huge difference and will be the key factor in deciding the election result)”.
Sharma is not the only one who believes that Jewar Airport can be a game changer in the UP assembly elections. Swaraj Singh Bhati, a resident of Muradgarhi village, has also pinned his hope on the project for a better future for the next generation.
“The land rates have gone up in the adjoining villages. Why shouldn’t we be happy about the project? Three companies have already come to our village. We are happy that now there will be employment in the village. ‘What harm are we doing, tell me? (How are we at a loss?),” said Bhati along with other villagers on the side of the road.
Some others say that they believe that along with the Jewar airport, other projects like Film City will start in the region which will help boost the economy and generate employment.
The foundation of the airport was laid by the Prime Minister to ease regional air traffic and relieve tension at IGI Airport. The first phase of the project, spread over 5,000 hectares with an investment of Rs 5,730 crore, is likely to be inaugurated in 2024.
SP’s eye to woo angry villagers
While the BJP’s election narrative is centered on the Jewar airport and development of the area, the SP-RLD alliance is trying to make those in line, which are yet to be resolved due to legal technical reasons.
RLD MLA Avtar Singh Bhadana met residents of Nangla Ganeshi, Dayanatpur, Rohi, Nangla Sharif Khan, Nangla Chittar, Jhangira Jhuti villages whose land was allegedly acquired for the Jewar airport. The residents were shifted to rented accommodation in nearby villages and given a plot and compensation under the government’s resettlement scheme. These six villages will get around 10,000 votes.
“The government has given compensation but not paid in full. Children’s money is owed. Bribery was taken, some less space, some more. We have been asked for money for electricity connection.
However, others like BJP worker Chaudhary Dharmendra Siwach believe that more than 70% of the votes will go to the party as people are “happy” with the project. “There are some whose papers are incomplete and we are hopeful that this too will be resolved by next month,” Siwach said.
“In the adjoining villages, those who have been shifted are in trouble because of their own actions,” said Brahmdev Sharma of Sabota village. Land is to be acquired for the government project.
RLD’s ‘China’ claim
RLD’s Bhadana, standing against BJP’s Dhirendra Singh, had alleged that the video of Jewar airport shown to the country is of Chinese airport.
BJP’s turncoat and four-time MP Bhadana said, “China had made this claim.” Asked whether he should refer to China’s statement at a time when the two countries have strained relations, Bhadana says, “Before showing the video of China’s airport and circulating it as a jewellery, the government He should know that.”
However, Dhirendra Singh says that he believed that the acquisition in Jewar was so easy that it saw no opposition and the farmers gave away their land for development. “Acquiring a piece of land where even a two-inch piece can see bloodshed, we have achieved it without any protest. I want to thank the farmers. He faced problems. We identified 611 farmers who were having legal issues and we resolved 400. Acquisition is a painful process but development needs to be thought of. The area where they are being shifted has a sector-like structure, sewer lines and wide roads. It’s a non-issue.”
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