Bhubaneswar: A day after Supreme Court dismissed appeals filed by Odisha government and Anil Agarwal Foundation over proposed Vendanta University, BJP leader Sambit Patra on Thursday said that truth has triumphed in the conspiracy hatched to loot farmers of their land.
“The Supreme Court reprimanded Odisha government for showing undue favours to a private company. Handing over of people’s property to private company without following due procedures, is a matter of concern,” he said.
On Wednesday, the top court came down heavily on the Odisha government for the “undue favour” shown to Vedanta group and quashed the acquisition of 8,000 acres of land from around 6,000 farmers for a proposed university in Puri district adjacent to the Balukhand Wildlife Sanctuary.
The SC noted that the entire acquisition proceedings was initiated at the instance of Vedanta Foundation and not the state. It also called Anil Agarwal Foundation’s act of changing the status of the company from private to public company as “mala fide exercise”. The apex court also castigated the government over non-application of mind on environmental aspects and passing of two rivers from the acquired lands in question.
“That patch of land has two rivers—Nua River and Nala River flowing through it. Rivers are public property and controlling its water flow by corporates can affect the local residents,” Patra added.
The Congress too has welcomed the ruling while BJD said that decisions are being taken by the government keeping the interests of people in mind.
“The Vedanta University proposal has been shelved for good. The state government did not hesitate to move the Supreme Court to help Vedanta get that land and the ruling must have come as a shock as it went beyond the law to help a private company. It was also an attempt to swindle Lord Jagannath’s land,” senior Congress leader Jayadev Jena said.
Refuting the allegation of ‘undue favours’ to Vedanta. Minister Pramila Mallik said that it is the job of the opposition to oppose every move of the government. “Whatever work we take up is for the betterment of people and the government will continue to take decisions for the development of the state,” she added.
