Naveen has no right to be in office: BJP, Cong

BHUBANESWAR: Hours after BJP demanded the chief minister's resignation in the wake of Orissa High court's observation on state's "inconsistent" mineral policy, Congress today asked Naveen Patnaik to step down from office to prove his respect for law of the land.


"Patnaik often says that law will take its own course.

Now the court of law (Orissa HC) has indicted the state government in strongest words finding it on wrong foot while disposing a case relating to recommendation of Posco-India's name for prospecting license (PL) over an iron ore reserve," senior Congress leader Narashingha Mishra told reporters here.

Dubbing Patnaik as a person who had "no respect" for the laws, courts and Constitution, Mishra challanged him to go by law in context to recent High Court judgement.

Citing an instance of the chief minister's alleged lack of respect for law, the senior Congress leader pointed out that Lok Pal's direction in connection with the land acquisition for Vedanta University project, was also not abided by the state government.

Though the Lok Pal had asked the state government to take action on its recommendation on Vedanta University case within 90 days, nothing was done, Mishra said.

In the much-hyped mining scam also the state government failed to arrest the real culprits or seize minerals worth Rs 110 crore stolen by a private company even after one year, he alleged.

Cautioning the chief minister, the Congress leader said that Patnaik should step down voluntarily as the law has been chasing him on different cases.

"Now the chief minister is liable to criminal prosecution in view of the observations made by the High Court on mineral policy," Mishra said.

Quoting a portion of the HC judgement of July 14, Mishra said "This clearly shows that the stand taken by the government is totally inconsistent and the mineral policy of the state is totally in a mess and the state government has adopted a policy that would suit to the situation and suit to favoured parties."

Meanwhile, the agitating Congress MLAs already on dharna over coal scam demanded a probe by Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG).

Accusing the chief minister of shielding the two ministers in the coal scam, leader of opposition Bhupinder Singh alleged that more ministers could be part of the irregularities.


http://expressbuzz.com/states/orissa/congress-seeks-naveen-patnaiks-resignation/191451.html