Shah Commission report: Congress demands Odisha CM's resignation

The opposition Congress Saturday demanded the resignation of Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik saying the Justice M.B. Shah commission probing illegal mining in the state, had indicted his government.

Former minister and senior Congress leader Niranjan Patnaik said the chief minister should take moral responsibility for the scam and resign immediately.

He also demanded the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) should probe government officials, mine owners and politicians who had a role in the scam.

Citing the commission report published on some websites, Niranjan said not only lower-level government officials, but top bureaucrats and politicians facilitated the massive loot of mineral resources from 2008 to 2011 in the state.

Congress chief whip in the assembly Prasad Harichandan said the state government cannot escape because the report clearly said the scam took place as a result of the collusion of politicians, officials and miners.

Harichandan said his party would raise the issue in the state assembly, beginning Monday.

The Justice M.B. Shah Commission, appointed by the central government in November 2010, investigated allegations of illegal mining in several mineral-rich states, including Odisha.