Veteran BJP leader Yashwant Sinha who had been on the target of Opposition leaders protesting against NTPC coal projects, on Wednesday took on the Opposition and said if the NTPC coal project was a sin then the UPA is responsible for it.
Calling the leaders of the ongoing agitation at Barkagaon ‘rent a cause’ leaders, Yashwant said that they do not have any solution and are making the land owners fool only to get some political ground, which they have lost. Hurt with the comments of leaders like former Union Minister Subodh Kant Sahay, ex-CM Babulal Marandi, RJD State president Gautam Sagar Rana and ex-MP Bhuvaneshwar Prasad Mehta, Sinha said why not these people or their leaders who were in UPA cabinet raised voice for the land owners of Barkagaon between October 2004 to 2014.
Putting the papers on table Yashwant said that on 11th October 2004 NTPC was allotted the Barkagaon/Keredari coal mines. On 25th August 2006 mining approval was given. In November 2008 Government of India issued a notification of land acquisition under Coal Bearing Act, NTPC started acquiring land from June 2009 which ended in March 2011. The process of transfer of Government land started in February 2007. On 23rd August 2009, Government approved the compensation rate and R&R policy. State Government announced the process complete on 27th February 2013.
BJP veteran said that from October 2004 UPA Government was in centre, since land acquisition is a State matter and all the important decisions regarding it in the State were taken when there was either president rule here or the governments directly or indirectly supported by the parties like Congress, RJD etc., whose leaders are now trying to prove BJP and me as villain.
Sinha said that if the land owners do not want to give their lands then I am with them and NTPC will have to go back. He informed that on 16th August he is going to meet with CM Raghuvar Das with five villagers each from all 28 affected villages to make things clear. Criticising the district administration he said that why middle men were invited in 6th August meeting. Warning the NTPC he said, “I have heard that attempts are going on to manage the opposition leaders with the help of money and if I will get any proof then no one is going to save you from me.”