‘Naveen should step down till cleared’

The Orissa Gana Parishad (OGP) on Sunday demanded that Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik step down till he cleared himself from the strictures g...

The Orissa Gana Parishad (OGP) on Sunday demanded that Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik step down till he cleared himself from the strictures given by the Orissa High Court in the controversial Tangarapada mining lease issue.

Addressing a news conference here, OGP president Bijay Mahapatra said that the High Court had castigated the Naveen Patnaik government for its ‘‘nepotisim’’ and actions taken against the interests of the people, in it judgement on November 18.

Mahapatra said that the CM had asked the Opposition to move the court, when it opposed the selection of the Jindal Strips for the Tangarpada chrome ore mine exploration and demanded a CBI inquiry. The CM should now move the court to clear himself, Mahapatra said.

Story continues below this ad

He added that the court, while setting aside the decision to select Jindal Strips as the joint venture partner (JVP) of the Industrial Development Corporation of Orissa Limited (IDCOOL) for the exploration of Tangarpada mines, had observed that the state government had given its approval to the project, without applying its mind.

The OGP president said the court had even ruled that the Centre and the state government would lose revenue to the extent of Rs 20,000 crore over a period of 20 years if the decision in favour of Jindal Strips was allowed to be executed.

‘FIR lodged 10 hours later… have two young kids’: BMW driver seeks bail

Cities4 hr ago

Woman driving BMW involved in fatal crash, judicial custody extended till September 27. Lawyer argues for bail, claiming Delhi Police converting accident case into culpable homicide not amounting to murder. Couple's children also injured, senior finance ministry official killed. Accident took place on Sunday afternoon, car hit bus and ambulance refused to take injured to hospital.

View all shorts

Live Blog