Hyderabad: Ridiculing the demand for investigations into the snooping on relatives of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose by the late Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, senior Congress MP V. Hanumantha Rao on Sunday said it was an attempt to divert public attention from the crisis caused by the NDA government among the farmers by amending the Land Acquisition Act.

Speaking to the media here on Sunday, Mr Rao asked what would be the great advantage either for the NDA government or for the people if an inquiry was instituted into an episode that happened 60 years ago.

“It is attention diverting tactics of the Modi government. Everyone knows the Congress and other Opposition parties are going to launch a public demonstration against the amendments to the Land Acquisition Act on April 19. The NDA bosses are deliberately raking up an old controversy now to divert public attention,” Mr Rao said.

Reacting to the conviction of former Satyam chief Ramalinga Raju, Mr Rao wanted a fresh inquiry to probe the conspiracy angles and identify the kingpins and leaders behind Raju’s offences.

He alleged that it was common knowledge that Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu was behind Raju’s sudden rise and was even responsible for arranging a special interview with former US President Bill Clinton.

Mr Hanumantha Rao also demanded a probe into the alleged acquisition of assets by Union minister M. Venkaiah Naidu and his family.