Narendra Modi behaving like Duryodhan: Congress

Bhubaneswar, Apr 6: Congress on Monday said that another 'Mahabharata' would be fought over proposed amendments in the land acquisition Act in which parties like BJD must prove their commitments towards farmers and tribals.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi is behaving like Duryodhan of Mahabharat and ready to sacrifice interest of farmers and tribals to appease the corporates which invested in the public issue (Modi) during elections. Investors now want dividends in the form of land," former Union Minister Jairam Ramesh told reporters here.

Appealing to BJD President and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to oppose the ordinance on land acquisition in Rajya Sabha, Ramesh said, "Here is an opportunity for Naveen Babu to prove his commitment towards farmers and tribals."

The NDA government is not in a majority in Rajya Sabha and therefore needs support of parties like BJD and others for amending the Land Acquisition Act, 2013. [Would continue to fight against land bill]

Stating that "secret" relationship between Naveen's BJD and Modi's BJP was now exposed after Prime Minister thanked the Odisha CM over his support on MMDR Act in the Parliament, Ramesh said, "I suspect a deal between the BJD and BJP over coal bill, mines bill and land bill."

"The deal is suspected to have been made to bail out BJD from the chitfund scam where the regional party's leaders are involved. The deal is to make Odisha chitfund free," Ramesh said adding he would request Patnaik to wake up and oppose amendments in the Land Acquisition Act, 2013. [Naveen Patnaik is chief conspirator in chit fund scam: Odisha BJP]

Noting that 14 parties, including Samajwadi Party, BSP, CPM, CPI, NCP, JD(U), TMC and DMK, have openly opposed the amendments in 2013 land acquisition act, the former Rural Development Minister Ramesh said Congress is in constant touch with these parties over the issue.

To a question, Ramesh, however, said that he is making an appeal to Naveen Patnaik's BJD and Jayalitha's AIADMK through the media to oppose the proposed amendments in the Land Acquistion Act, 2013 if they sincerely fight for the interest of farmers and the tribals.

Ramesh said even NDA allies like Akali Dal and Shiv Sena were not happy over the proposed amendments in the Act. "Even RSS is not happy over the proposed amendments in the 2013 land act," he claimed. [Shiv Sena's fresh swipe at BJP: NDA ally terms passing Land Acquisition Bill a 'sin']

PTI