Cong locks horns with CPI (M) on land acquisition

Hyderabad, Nov 1 (UNI) On a collision course with its former election ally CPI(M), the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) today alleged the Left Party was leading struggles of displaced persons for fear of losing its base.

Talking to newspersons at the CLP office, Party Chief whip N Kiran Kumar Reddy and Whips S Udaya Bhanu and D Sridhar Babu claimed the the relief and rehabilitation packages in Andhra Pradesh were better than those in West Bengal.

While West Bengal Minister Vinay Konar faulted those opposing allotment of land to industrialists coming from several East Asian countries in an article published in a party organ, the CPI(M) in the state was opposing the same in Andhra Pradesh.

If land allocation and acquisition was not wrong in West Bengal, how could it be so in Andhra Pradesh, the Congress leaders questioned.

While the Andhra Pradesh Government was allocating Rs 40,000 for those who lost their houses due to land acquisition, the compensation being paid in West Bengal was only between Rs 10,000 to Rs 25,000.

The CPI(M) which demanded construction of projects to harness flood waters and diversion of the same to barren lands and drought areas, was now inciting the displaced persons and obstructing the projects when Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy was doing exactly what they wanted with great enthusiasm.

They alleged the CPI(M) was worried about its existence when the projects were completed, bringing prosperity and plenty to the people including the displaced persons.

In an open letter to Party State Secretary and Politburo Member B V Raghavulu, a copy of which was released to the press here, the CLP leaders advised him to study the policies of both Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal and give a reply to them if they were wrong besides advising Kolkata to emulate the example of Andhra Pradesh if they were right.

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