An intense agitation would be launched if the Minister insists on forcibly acquiring the land in developing localities in south-western parts of the city, they warned, while addressing a convention of land owners here recently.

Speakers included the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Sharad Pawar, Nagpur MP and former Union Minister Vilas Muttemwar, Deputy Speaker of the State Legislative Assembly, Sharad Tasre, veteran leader of the co-operative movement, Babasaheb Kedar, Wardha MP Datta Meghe and former Nagpur MP Banwarilal Purohit.

Pawar ridiculed the idea of developing a project like air cargo hub by acquiring costly land within the city limits. The move is totally against the world wide trend of shifting airports and air cargo ports 30 to 40 km away from cities. Similar move isunder consideration also in India, he added.

Muttemwar came down heavily on `undemocratic' attitude of Nitin Gadkari saying that in projecting his own image, the Minister refuses to take people into confidence. He alleged that Gadkari wanted to acquire land only help the builders.

The convention was organised by Nagrik Kriti Samiti to oppose the move to acquire land in Jaitala, Bhamti, Shivangaon and Chichbhuwan for the project. The Samiti leaders pointed out that several residential complexes were constructed in these areas during the period city witnessed horizontal expansion. The Samiti clarified that it was not opposed to any development project. The opposition was mainly to the move to acquire land within the city limits.

Samiti president Vijay Raut and Secretary Anil Kale, Dilip Jadhav also spoke at the convention. The proceedings were conducted by Dadarao Dongre. CPI leader Arun Wankar, who attended the meeting, announced his party's support to the Samiti's agitation against landacquisition.