Congress is stalling progress, says Naidu

Urban development minister and senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader M Venkaiah Naidu today appealed to the regional parties not to fall prey to the Congress party's tactics to stall country's progress.

"I appeal to all the parties , including the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), not to fall prey to Congress party's tactics as it wants to stop the country's progress. The regional parties should take a line based on the interest of the states," Naidu told media persons here.

"Congress has adopted a two-pronged strategy. On one hand, they are putting obstacles in the path of development by opposing the Bills in Rajya Sabha and by running disinformation campaign through falsehood," he added.

Take a dig at the Congress party, which is opposing the new Land Acquisition Bill, he said, the party had handed over two lakh acres of land to private parties during its regime while the NDA government has not acquired even an inch of land for private purpose.

The Union minister also sought the BJD government's support for passing the Land Bill as the state requires land acquisition for infrastructure development for ports and mines.

Reacting to the allegations of BJP, senior Congress leader and Leader of Opposition of state assembly Narasingha Mishra said, "According to the BJP's dictionary, development means development of Adani and Ambani and not of the farmers and common man. Let the people judge who is right and who is wrong", he added.