Congress demands CBI probe into deal with Vedanta
Congress on Saturday demanded Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik's resignation and a CBI probe into the state government's deal with the company.
By PTI |
BHUBANESWAR: Emboldened by the Supreme Court decision declining permission to Vedanta to mine bauxite in Orissa, Congress on Saturday demanded Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik's resignation and a CBI probe into the state government's deal with the company.
Fearing that another "Nandigram" would be invited if the deal is not cancelled forthwith, Congress leaders said the apex court's ruling was a blow to Patnaik as he was "personally involved" in it and the BJD-BJP government had allowed mining of Bauxite from Niyamgiri hills for Vedanta's alumina plant at Lanjigarh in Kalahandi district.
"Being an advocate of Vedanta, Naveen Patnaik should step down from office forthwith as he has lost all moral rights to continue after the Supreme Court decision," state Congress president Jaidev Jena told reporters here.
Accusing Patnaik of misleading people about Vedanta, he alleged that the chief minister was attempting to hand over precious mines to industrialists for a pittance.
Describing the deal with Vedanta as "shady", senior Congress leader and former union minister Shrikant Jena sought a probe by CBI into the agreement and its immediate cancellation in the interest of the state, particularly the "Kandha" tribals of Niyamgiri hill and its ecology.
With the Supreme Court questioning the credentials of the firm, he warned another "Nandigram" would be invited if the deal was not scrapped and Vedanta driven away from the state.
Fearing that another "Nandigram" would be invited if the deal is not cancelled forthwith, Congress leaders said the apex court's ruling was a blow to Patnaik as he was "personally involved" in it and the BJD-BJP government had allowed mining of Bauxite from Niyamgiri hills for Vedanta's alumina plant at Lanjigarh in Kalahandi district.
"Being an advocate of Vedanta, Naveen Patnaik should step down from office forthwith as he has lost all moral rights to continue after the Supreme Court decision," state Congress president Jaidev Jena told reporters here.
Accusing Patnaik of misleading people about Vedanta, he alleged that the chief minister was attempting to hand over precious mines to industrialists for a pittance.
Describing the deal with Vedanta as "shady", senior Congress leader and former union minister Shrikant Jena sought a probe by CBI into the agreement and its immediate cancellation in the interest of the state, particularly the "Kandha" tribals of Niyamgiri hill and its ecology.
With the Supreme Court questioning the credentials of the firm, he warned another "Nandigram" would be invited if the deal was not scrapped and Vedanta driven away from the state.
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