POSCO war zone BJP demands resignation of Orissa CM

Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party of Orissa demanded the resignation of Mr Naveen Patnaik CM of Orissa in view of the observations made by the High Court while disposing off a petition challenging the state government’s recommendation for grant of prospecting licence for Kandahar mines in favor of steelmaker POSCO.

Senior BJP leader Mr Bijoy Mohapatra at a press conference at the party’s state headquarters said that the chief minister should resign immediately in view of the High Court’s observation that the mineral policy of the state Government is totally in a mess and the state government has adopted a policy that would suit to the situation and suit to favored parties.

Mr Mohapatra said that “The chief minister has got no option but to quit his post.”

Mr Mohapatra pointed out that the Court had also observed that the State government had taken different stands at different points of time for different applicants who had applied for its recommendation for grant of prospecting licenses in their favor.

Mr Mohapatra said that the chief minister should resign from his post as the mineral policy was decided by the Cabinet that he headed while adding that Mr Patnaik now had no option but to quit.

Leader of the BJP Legislature Party in the State Assembly KV Singh Deo also blamed the Chief Minister for applying different yardsticks for the different companies with regard to recommendation for grant of prospecting licence and mining lease.

While allowing a petition by Geomin Minerals & Marketing (P) Ltd last week, the High Court had set aside the recommendation made by the State government in favor of POSCO and directed the State government to take a fresh decision in the matter.