Congress attacks Chhattisgarh government over mining lease

RAIPUR: Attacking the BJP government over allocation of iron ore blocks to Pushp Steel, Chhattisgarh state unit Congress general secretary Bhupesh Baghel has sought resignation of Chief Minister Raman Singh pointing that his government allegedly favoured the company.

Former deputy leader of the opposition, Baghel had written a letter to the CBI seeking a probe into coal and iron ore blocks allocation to Pushp Steel in the state.

"The Delhi High Court's order dated April 5, 2013, has clearly proved that the state government had granted prospecting licence and a mining lease to the undeserving Pushp Steel and Mines Steel Ltd," veteran Congressman Baghel told reporters here today.

"Chief Minister Raman Singh committed serious irregularities granting mining leases to Pushp Steel. Either Raman Singh should step down or BJP chief Rajnath Singh should sack him," he said.

Pushp Steel and Mines Ltd was set up by two brothers, Atul Jain and Sanjay Jain on June 2, 2004 and on the same day, the company applied for a prospecting license for an iron ore mine in Chhattisgarh.

Baghel said as per Delhi High Court's order the company with no experience and almost no capital was granted a mining lease.