August 4, 2006

$1-Billion Pledge for Indian University Is Smokescreen for Business Scam, Opposition-Party Leader Claims

By SHAILAJA NEELAKANTAN

The Indian businessman Anil Agarwal's pledge of $1-billion to set up Vedanta University, in the South Indian state of Orissa, is a gimmick, opponents of the project say.

They say Mr. Agarwal wants to divert attention from his purportedly corrupt mining deal with the state's government and may even be trying to execute a land grab.

"He wants to deflect criticism of his deal with the government to mine bauxite ore on terms that are much below market value," said Srikant Jena, a

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