Communist Party of India general secretary Mr AB Bardhan has flayed the role of the centre in POSCO land acquisition campaign in Orissa.

He said the Ministry of Environment and Forests had given permission to the project without even having a proper signed contract with the Orissa government.

Mr Bardhan said that "Ministry of Environment and Forests had turned a blind eye to NC Saxena committee report on violation of forest rights act. Union government clearances are based on forgeries and lies presented by the state authorities.”

He said that "In Orissa the government vandalism is poised to destroy livelihood of farmers on 200 acres of land where precious natural resource of betel vines are grown.”

According to him, the POSCO Virodhi Pratibandh Samiti led by Mr Abhay Sahu, who was jailed, had successfully stalled the land acquisition by force and villagers had formed a human chain to stall police entry into the area last week.

He said that "The campaign will commence once again on June 17th when the state forces are expected to begin land acquisition exercises.”

CPI members will visits the Orissa villages, which are affected by POSCO land acquisition on June 21 to review the status of the agitation and the peoples support.

(Sourced from ET)