BHUBANESWAR: The Opposition Congress on Monday made a strong plea for a CBI probe into the mining scam which runs beyond the borders. “In view of the massive magnitude of illegality going beyond the State borders, involving many states and central government departments, and political patronage at the highest level, the State Vigilance can not do justice to the crime,” Pradesh Congress chief Niranjan Patnaik told the Justice MB Shah Commission of inquiry probing the multi-crore mining scam in the State while justifying his party’s demand for a CBI probe. The PCC chief said the mining scam in Odisha has far surpassed in magnitude and spread. The total loot of minerals from the State is estimated at more than ` 2 lakh crore, four times higher than the State’s budget. “Irregularities of such massive magnitude cannot take place for such a long period without Government and political patronage at the highest level,” Patnaik said adding, mines owners and contractors raising millions of tonnes of minerals are the principal financiers of the party in power. The patronage extended by the ruling BJD to the mining mafia is an open secrete and the biggest beneficiaries are Ram Bahadur Thakur Limited (RBTL) and Arjun Ladha mines. To a query, the PCC chief said the Keonjhar district administration did not take the Commission to the mines operated by RBTL and Ladha deliberately. This was pre-planned, he said. Alleging that the State Government is trying to politicise the issue, Patnaik told mediapersons that the Government was not sincere to apprehend the culprits. Since the Chief Minister, Steel and Mines Minister and the Forest Ministers are involved in the scam, the case of illegal mining activities should be handed over to the CBI, he said. Several members of the party, including leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh, party Chief Whip in the Assembly Prasad Harichandan and youth leader Alok Jena made their submission before the Commission. The Commission, however, remarked that several Congress leaders are also involved in the illegal mining activities. BJP State president Jual Oram in his submission before the Commission demanded investigation into the nexus between the Left-wing ultras, political parties and people involved in illegal mining.The regions where the illegal mining operation are going on are predominantly controlled by the Maoists. So much so that the local police and forest officials have surrendered before the rebels. Despite massive assistance from the Centre, lack of political will of the State Government has resulted in giving Maoists an upper hand. He also supported the demand for a CBI probe.
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