The BJP on Wednesday demanded resignation of Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik following Centre's rejection of environment clearance to Vedanta's bauxite mining project in Kalahandi district.
"Naveen Patnaik has no moral right to continue as chief minister after indictment by Union environment ministry on the Vendanta mining issue," Orissa unit BJP president Jual Oram told reporters in Rourkela.
After getting the NC Saxena Committee report, Centre refused stage-II environment clearance to Vedanta's mining proposal in the Niyamgiri area stating that it has violated Forest Rights Act and Environment Protection Act, he said.
Oram said, "From the very beginning I have been opposing the mining plan by Vedanta."
Oram said now tribals of Kalahandi area will lead a peaceful life in the forest.
The Naveen Patnaik government has been "violating" their forest rights, Oram said and appealed the tribals to unitedly fight for their rights.