Opposition seeks Naveen's resignation over Shah panel's report

Congress to observe 12 hour long stir on Jan 7

Opposition parties in Odisha demanded in unison the resignation of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik over the Justice MB Shah Enquiry Commission’s leaked reports on illegal mining, where the probe panel is believed to have indicted the state government for its lapses.

The Union Cabinet has yesterday referred the Shah Commission report to the Committee of Secretaries.

“After the Shah Commission report, the real image of Naveen Patnaik is exposed. The panel’s report has substantiated the allegations of the Congress about the complicity of the state government in the multi-crore mining scam. The Chief Minister should tender his resignation immediately and be arrested,” Jayadev Jena, president, Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) told media persons.

Stating that the party will continue its protest until the Chief Minister resigns, Jena said, his party will go on a 12 hour (6 am to 6 pm) state-wide stir (hartaal) on January 7 on the issue. In Bhubaneswar, where the urban body elections are scheduled on January 8, the Congress leaders will sit on a token dharna without hindering the poll preparations.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), on the other hand, alleged that both the state and the Central governments were involved in the multi-crore scam. Each and every file relating to mining lease was cleared by the Chief Minister’s office and all decisions were taken at his level,” said K V Singdeo, president, state BJP unit.

“The involvement of the chief minister from day one is established. After this, he does not have right to continue in the office for a single day,” he remarked. Singhdeo also held the central government equally responsible for the scam.

Countering the BJP’s criticism of the central government, Congress said, it is the BJP which was in alliance with BJD in the coalition government at the state between 2000 and 2009 and is directly involved in the scam.

However, both BJP and Congress supported the probe panel’s recommendations for handing over the illegal mining cases to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Reacting to the opposition tirade, vice president of BJD and health minister Damodar Rout said, “The Commission has held the Central government equally guilty for the flaws in the mining sector. The panel has submitted its report to the Centre. The ball is in their court. We will respond at the right time.”