Union Steel and Mines Minister Narendra Singh Tomar’s recent indication that the mining scam of Odisha does not need a CBI probe has sparked resentment in different quarters here.
In an open letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Odiha Jan Adhikar Parishad has questioned the justification of the Minister’s statement and urged Modi to take serious note of it. “The Minister has categorically supported the State Vigilance inquiry rejecting the need of a CBI probe into the highest mining scam in the country. This gives a smell of an unholy nexus between the looters and their mentors, and obviously your good self will judge it,” Debiprasad Prusty and Bijay Parida of the Parishad stated in the letter.
Mentioning that the Justice Shah Commission has strongly recommended for a CBI probe into the scam and leaders of almost all parties have been demanding such a high-level inquiry, the Parishad leaders also wanted to know whether “protectors of corruption” need to continue in high positions in the Central Cabinet.
“The whole nation is watching what action Mananiya Pradhan Mantrijee is taking,” they said.