CPI asked the Indian government to handle the POSCO project in Orissa in a similar way as it had done with the Vedanta mining issue and said else Congress leader Mr Rahul Gandhi's support to tribals of Niyamgiri hills will appear stage managed.

Welcoming the canceling of environment clearance to Vedanta's USD 1.7 billion bauxite mining project, CPI said it was surprised at the positive attitude shown by prime minister Dr Manmohan Singh to the POSCO project, where people are agitating against the extension of the plant to villages.

Mr S Sudakar Reddy deputy general secretary of CPI said that "Mr Rahul Gandhi's announcement of support to Dongria Kardh tribals Vedanta will be looked upon as a stage managed show if the same is not extended to POSCO.”

He said that "People are intelligent enough to understand who is fighting for their rights and which party's governments are working for the interest of corporate houses, mines and MNCs.”

His comments came a day after the AICC general secretary visited the tribal belt and hailed the decision as a victory for locals of the area and vowed to be a soldier for their cause.

Mr Reddy also asked the government to cancel the proposed reservation of 56,690 hectare of land for iron ore exploration at Bayyaram in Andhra Pradesh''s Khammam district.

(Sourced from PTI)