Naveen must go, says Congress

Newindpress,Nov 26,2007

BHUBANESWAR: The Supreme Court judgment declining permission to Vedanta Aluminium Limited (VAL) to mine bauxite has come as a shot in the arm for Congress which is planning to raise the issue in the Assembly on Monday.

Stating that the judgment is vindication of the Opposition stand, the Congress demanded that Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik step down owning moral responsibility for ‘showing undue favour’ to the company.

Describing the judgment as a victory of truth, leader of Green Kalahandi and former MP Bhakta Charan Das said it would go a long way in protecting the flora and fauna of the district. Activists of the Green Kalahandi celebrated the judgment and went round the Bhawanipatna town in a rally.

Deputy leader of the Congress in the Assembly Narasingh Mishra said the Naveen Government has been exposed. It is now established that the Government had shown undue favour to Vedanta.

OPCC president Jaydev Jena said the party would soon submit a memorandum to the Governor demanding Naveen’s removal.