BHUBANESWAR: Over 30 prominent academicians and civil society members ofIndia have demanded the Prime Minister to prevail upon the state government to stop land acquisition for the Posco project. They alleged land is being acquired by threatening villagers through police.

"We call upon you to immediately ask the Orissa government to stop this, withdraw all clearances given in violation of the law and to take an impartial stand in the court cases filed by the people. Failure to stop this attack will show that the UPA government's much vaunted concern towards displacement, forest rights and "inclusive growth" simply as an eyewash," they said in a joint letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh sent on Tuesday.