Srikant Jena wants Naveen Patnaik to go

Union minister Srikant Jena on Monday demanded resignation of Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik, alleging his “direct involvement” in the multi-crore mining scam.

Union minister Srikant Jena on Monday demanded resignation of Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik, alleging his “direct involvement” in the multi-crore mining scam.

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The senior congress leader from Odisha said by imposing a penalty of Rs. 58,000 crore on 27 mining operators for alleged illegal mining, the BJD-led government has only ended up admitting its own involvement in the “mega loot of minerals”.

Countering Jena’s allegations, state finance minister Prasanna Acharya told Hindustan Times, “If the scams occurred during the tenure of the UPA government are taken into account, PM Manmohan Singh should be the first person to resign on moral grounds. As far as mining is concerned, the state

government has ordered a vigilance probe and taking actions accordingly.”

(With HT inputs)