People from different walks of life and various organisations, under the aegis of the World Human Rights Protection Association (WHRPA), on Thursday staged a demonstration before the Raj Bhavan here demanding a CBI probe into the mishap at the Blast Furnace-II of the Bhushan Steel limited (BSl) on November 13.
“Since Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s elder brother Prem Patnaik and the BSl owner are friends, no stringent action has been taken against the company as yet even though a week has elapsed after the mishap,” alleged WHRPA president Abhinna Hota.
Claiming that more than 80 workers have been killed in the blast, CITU leader Naba Kishore Mohanty slammed the State Government for its ‘secret understanding’ with the Bhushan authorities.
Trade union leader Mayadhar Nayak also decried the Government’s inefficiency in publishing the complete list of the workers deployed at the blast site on the day.
“It is matter a matter of great concern that a private company is ignoring the moves of district Collector and other administrative officials in giving the details about the persons working at the blast furnace on the fateful day and the State Government instead taking stringent action is acting as an agent of Bhushan,” rued Nayak.
The association submitted a memorandum to the Governor urging him to ensure ordering of a CBI inquiry into the incident, besides initiating criminal proceedings against the persons responsible for the tragedy.
Among others, Debi Prasad Prusty, Sura Jena and Debasis Mishra also spoke on the occasion.