Reacting on Union Steel and Mines Minister Narendra Singh Tomar’s stand on CBI probe into mining scam in Odisha, former Union Minister Srikant Jena of Congress on Thursday termed the Centre’s non-committal attitude as unfortunate.
Addressing reporters here, Jena said the Shah Commission in its final report has already recommended CBI probe into the mining scam in the State realising its magnitude. The Centre should respect the recommendations of the Commission and clear its stand before the public about the probe, he added.
“Surprisingly, the Mines Minister brushed aside the questions regarding the probe and didn’t show any interest to discuss about that,” said Jena and added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who won the elections with huge mandate by assuring the people to eradicate corruption from the country should at least take steps to conduct CBI probe into the mega scam.
He further said that the State Government is in panic after the Shah Commission recommended CBI probe into the mega scam as it would unmask corrupt Government officials and ruling party leaders who helped the corporate houses plunder natural resources.
Jena alleged that there is a nexus between the BJD Government in the State and the BJP Government in the Centre as a result of which the Centre is not showing any interest to conduct CBI probe keeping in view the BJD’s growing inclination towards the Modi Government.
On land and house allotment scam, Jena demanded cancellation of all houses, plots and land allotted under discretionary quota and appropriate action against the defaulters. He asked Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik as to why he is not taking action against his party leaders who had taken more than one house or land under discretionary quota violating law.
He suggested the State Government to form a corporation to regulate and manage chromite mines by stopping monopoly of a few private companies who make immense benefit out of it. “The companies earn huge amount of revenues by offering a small amount of royalty to the State. We should take the mines into our hand to get around Rs 20,000 crore per annum,” he added.