BJP demands Naveen Patnaik's resignation over NC Saxena panel report

Seeking Orissa chief minister Naveen Patnaik's resignation following the NC Saxena committee report opposing Vedanta's bauxite mining in Niyamgiri hills, BJP today demanded to set up a commission to probe the "illegal" favour made to Vedanta and Posco.

"As the state government claimed to have worked in accordance with the Supreme Court directives in regard to forest land diversion and implementation of Forest Rights Act, let there be an commission headed by a retired judge of the apex court to probe illegal favour made to Vedanta and Posco," party's state vice-president Ashok Sahu told reporters in Bhubaneswar.

BJP's reaction came two days after the NC Saxena committee finding gross violation of Forest Rights Act and Forest Conservation Act by the state government while favouring Vedanta's proposed mining project.

Holding Patnaik responsible for it, Sahu alleged that the chief minister deliberately retained the forest and environment department with him in order to facilitate corporate houses of his choice.

Patnaik had been union minister for mines and he handpicked IAS officers to assist him "in his design to twist laws for personal gains," Sahu alleged.

He claimed an IAS officer who earlier worked in Sterilite Industries, was appointed as collector of Kalahandi in order to favour Vedanta.

Rejecting BJP's demand, industries minister Raghunath Mohanty said the state government had never violated law of the land for any company, "The allegations were false and baseless."