New Delhi, Aug. 3: The Congress today demanded the immediate arrest of Chhattisgarh agriculture minister Brijmohan Agrawal for allegedly grabbing forest land and criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for turning a blind eye to "brazen incidents of corruption" and other illegal acts of BJP leaders.

Congress leader P.L. Punia, who is in charge of the party's Chhattisgarh unit, said: "Grabbing government land is a crime but this minister grabbed prohibited forest land. The law does not permit acquisition of even an inch of forest land without the permission of the central government. A thorough investigation should be launched after arresting the minister for this criminal offence."

Punia alleged that Agrawal, one of the most powerful BJP leaders in Chhattisgarh, had violated the Forest Conservation Act to get land registered in his wife's name and built a tourist resort there.

In addition to the forest land, land meant for tribals had also been taken over, Punia claimed.

"The resort is being built on an area spread over 300 acres. The government should get this land vacated at the earliest," the Congress leader said.

After a newspaper reported the alleged land grab, Agrawal denied the charge and asserted there was no violation of the law. The minister said that if some anomaly was found, he would return the land.

The issue triggered a turmoil in the Chhattisgarh Assembly, with the Congress and Ajit Jogi's Janata Congress Chhattisgarh demanding action against Agrawal.

Punia today said a complaint had been lodged with the Prime Minister's Office on December 2 last year but no action was taken.

Congress Rajya Sabha member Pramod Tiwari, who addressed the media along with Punia, said: "This exposes the BJP's double standard on corruption. Land worth hundreds of crores can be grabbed by BJP leaders but the Prime Minister will look away. Action is taken only against Opposition leaders."

Another Congress leader from Chhattisgarh, Chhaya Verma, said: "It is shocking that top ministers are grabbing government land. This is a shameful episode. There is another scandal involving hundreds of acres of land in Mahasamund district (in Chhattisgarh).

"The minister says he is being framed because he is close to the chief minister. Should an inquiry be ordered if a person so close to the chief minister illegally grabs government land?"