BJP, Congress target Naveen govt over SC Vedanta verdict
- Bhubaneswar: Day after the Supreme Court verdict upholding the Orissa high court order against land allotment for Vedanta Group's university project in Puri district, the BJP and Congress on Thursday criticized the state government for trying to extend Favour to a particular company.
- While the Congress announced a six-day agitation to demand Naveen Patnaik's resignation, BJP national sailormen in Puri Kasperson Sam bit Patra said the apex court verdict has exposed the government, which had planned to extend largesse to a company by ignoring the interest of 6,000 families of farmers.
- Addressing the media at the state BJP office, Sam bit pointed out how land, through which two rivers flow and was located close to a sanctuary, was being given to a company in violation of norms. "This is a matter of serious concern," Sam bit said, adding that the government should explain the basis on which such mindless action was taken. "The government has breached people's trust," he said.
- Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee president Sarat Pattanayak said the verdict has indicted the government. "The chief minister has no moral right to continue. He must resign. We will hold state-wide agitation from April 15 to 20 to press for his ouster,"Sarat said. The Congress leader said the government must explain why it tried to favors a particular company.
- State revenue minister Pramila Mallik said it will be improper for her to comment on the SC verdict. "However, the opposition has a habit of criticizing the government. All actions of the Naveen Patnaik government is guided by the principle of people's welfare," Pramila said.
- Countering Sam bit, BJD national spokesperson and Rajya Sabha member Samite Patra said by questioning the state government on the land allotment to Vedanta, the BJP leader has brought state unit president Manmohan Samal's role under scanner
- Samite said during the time the government decided to allot land to Vedanta for the university project, Manmohan was state's revenue minister (2004 to 2008). The BJP and the BJD were coalition partners then. The project was approved between 2006 and 2007.