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| Narasingha Mishra |
Bhubaneswar, October 24:
Armed with the Central Empowered Committee’s (CEC) report on mining scam in
Odisha which was submitted to the Supreme Court recently, Leader of Opposition
and senior Congress leader Narasingha Mishra dared Chief Minister Naveen
Patnaik to order a CBI probe into the scam and step down from his office.
Armed with the Central Empowered Committee’s (CEC) report on mining scam in
Odisha which was submitted to the Supreme Court recently, Leader of Opposition
and senior Congress leader Narasingha Mishra dared Chief Minister Naveen
Patnaik to order a CBI probe into the scam and step down from his office.
Addressing a Press
conference here Mishra said, “The CEC’s report not only puts the Chief Minister
under the shadow of corruption but prima facie establishes that he is a party
to different mining scams in the State. Hence, he should step down from his
office he holds and order a CBI probe into the scam before the Supreme Court
gives any adverse comment.”
conference here Mishra said, “The CEC’s report not only puts the Chief Minister
under the shadow of corruption but prima facie establishes that he is a party
to different mining scams in the State. Hence, he should step down from his
office he holds and order a CBI probe into the scam before the Supreme Court
gives any adverse comment.”
Slamming the State Government
over the Thakurani B iron ore mine in Keonjhar, Mishra said that the CEC’s report
has shown how the Chief Minister and the then Mines Minister AU Singhdeo had
shown undue favour to Sarada Mines despite opposition from the then Chief Secretary.
over the Thakurani B iron ore mine in Keonjhar, Mishra said that the CEC’s report
has shown how the Chief Minister and the then Mines Minister AU Singhdeo had
shown undue favour to Sarada Mines despite opposition from the then Chief Secretary.
Referring to the report
Mishra said, “If we refer to the CEC’s report in Para 138, there is clear
finding that the renewal of the mining lease by the State Government with
effect from 14.8.2001 was in clear violation of MMDR Act, 1957 and MCR, 1960
and as such the renewal of the mining lease is void and is of no effect. On
14.8.2001, the renewal was approved by the then Steel and Mines Minister AU
Singh Deo and by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. This amounts to showing undue
favour to a mine owner and therefore punishable under Prevention of Corruption
Act.”
Mishra said, “If we refer to the CEC’s report in Para 138, there is clear
finding that the renewal of the mining lease by the State Government with
effect from 14.8.2001 was in clear violation of MMDR Act, 1957 and MCR, 1960
and as such the renewal of the mining lease is void and is of no effect. On
14.8.2001, the renewal was approved by the then Steel and Mines Minister AU
Singh Deo and by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. This amounts to showing undue
favour to a mine owner and therefore punishable under Prevention of Corruption
Act.”
He further stated that
the most important paragraph in the CEC’s report is Para 173 which has quoted
the noting of the then Chief Secretary in the file relating to the transfer of
the mining lease from the partnership farm to a private limited company.
the most important paragraph in the CEC’s report is Para 173 which has quoted
the noting of the then Chief Secretary in the file relating to the transfer of
the mining lease from the partnership farm to a private limited company.
“The Chief Secretary
questioned the bona fide of such permission being given and said, “Would this
not amount to a fraud?” In spite of this observation of the Chief Secretary,
the transfer was permitted. As per the rules of business of the State
Government, the file will be processed through the concerned Minister to the
Chief Minster. Both of them alone can overrule the view of the Chief Secretary.
It therefore follows that the then Mines Minister AU Sungh Deo with the intention
of showing favour to a mine owner allowed this transfer,” alleged Mishra.
questioned the bona fide of such permission being given and said, “Would this
not amount to a fraud?” In spite of this observation of the Chief Secretary,
the transfer was permitted. As per the rules of business of the State
Government, the file will be processed through the concerned Minister to the
Chief Minster. Both of them alone can overrule the view of the Chief Secretary.
It therefore follows that the then Mines Minister AU Sungh Deo with the intention
of showing favour to a mine owner allowed this transfer,” alleged Mishra.