TS ‘surprised’ by Jogi’s decision to quit and allegations

BILASPUR: Leader of opposition in Chhattisgarh assembly and senior Congress leader TS Singh Deo is ‘surprised’ by the decision of former chief minister Ajit Jogi to form a new party. He also expressed his surprise over allegations made by Jogi against him about encroaching on government land, saying that Jogi needed to check his facts.On Thursday, media reports said Jogi threatened to form a new party and called the Congress the "B team" of BJP there.Speaking to TOI, Singh Deo said that he was ‘surprised’ by the way Jogi announced the decision to form a new party. He further said that if Jogi was really serious about forming a new party, he would have announced it along with his supporters and advisors. Instead, Jogi has said that he would announce it on June 6, 2016 at Marwahi, which reflects Jogi’s self-doubt, he adde.Reacting to Jogi’s allegation about him (Singh Deo) encroaching on government land and therefore soft paddling on Raman government, Singh Deo said that he was surprised again at the lack of Jogi’s ‘ignorance’ about the fact. He said that Jogi had been chief minister of the state and he should have checked his facts before making such an allegation.Giving details about the land in question, Singh Deo said that it was khasra number 3467, measuring 52.06 acres. The said land has been recognized by the Dominion of India as the private property of the Maharaja of Surguja and recorded as such in the inventory of properties at the time of merger.Furthermore, as per the provisions of the Hindu Succession Act, Section 5, all such properties go to the heir as per law and custom.Singh Deo said that at the time of merger the Dominion of India recognized the said property as the private property of Maharaja Ramanuj Saran Singh Deo. After his death it went to his heirs Maharaj Ambikeshwar Saran Singh Deo. After his death Maharaja Madneshwar Saran Singh Deo received it and following his death it was passed on to Maharaja Tribhuwaneshwar Saran Singh Deo, who is the current owner of the said property.Singh Deo added that before making a baseless and false allegation, it would have been better if he had checked his facts first.