Row in Assembly over HC verdict on Vedanta varsity

The members of the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) found themselves in a tight spot on the opening day of the winter session of the state legislative assembly with the Opposition members turning the heat on the government over the Orissa High Court's recent judgement on the land acquisition process for the proposed Vedanta University Project (VUP).

Terming the land acquisition for Rs 15,000-crore project as flawed and inconsistent with the laws of land, the Opposition stepped up the ante on the state Chief Minister, demanding his resignation on the issue on moral grounds.

With the assembly plunging into din, the speaker had to adjourn the house five times during the day.

"As has been pointed out by the Orissa High Court in its verdict, there were irregularities in the allotment of land for the VUP. Also, there have been violations of the constitutional provisions in the process of land acquisition for the project. In the light of these violations, the Chief Minister has no moral right to continue in power and we strongly demand his resignation on this issue”, said Bhupinder Singh, leader of the Opposition.

Echoing Singh's views, senior BJP leader Jayanarayan Mishra said, “The Chief Minister should resign honouring the verdict of the Orissa High Court. First the Lok Pal had flayed the government on the VUP issue and then the Orissa High Court quashed the land acquisition notification for the project. The Opposition had demanded that public opinion has to be sought for the project but the ruling BJD passed the Vedanta University Bill in a hurry without heeding our demand.”

"The committee for land acquisition for the VUP was constituted by the Chief Minister himself and the Orissa High Court has termed the land acquisition process as 'illegal and void'. The Chief Minister should resign owning moral responsibility on the issue”, said senior BJP leader K V Singh Deo.

However, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, dismissed the Opposition's demand as 'unjustified'.Raghunath Mohanty, the state minister for parliamentary affairs termed the Opposition's demand for the Chief Minister as 'politically motivated'.

"The government is prepared to hold a detailed discussion on the VUP issue. The Vedanta University Bill was passed in accordance with the law and democratic provisions. The allegations made by the Opposition on the issue are baseless and it is shameful on the part of the Opposition to raise such allegations on the floor of the house”, he added.

On November 16, the Orissa High Court terming the land acquisition process of the proposed university as 'illegal and void'. The court also directed the Anil Agarwal Foundation, the promoter of the university, to return the acquired land to the owners.