The Pioneer, 10th August, 2008
Pioneer News Service Bhubaneswar
BJD MLAs Balbhadra Majhi and Puspendra Singh Deo on Saturday came down heavily on AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi for opposing the Vedanta project at Lanjigarha in Kalahandi. Both the MLAs belong to Kalahandi district.
Addressing a Press conference here in the wake of Supreme Court's judgement on allowing the Vedanta to go for mining in Niyamgiri, Majhi said Rahul Gandhi had tried to gain cheap mileage from this issue. "After the apex court gave its clearance, we expect, Rahul and his colleagues would no more raise any hue and cry on Vedanta issue," he said.
During his Orissa visit in March, Gandhi had visited the tribals and assured that he would fight for their cause. The young leader had also gone to the extent of declaring him as a "soldier" of tribals in Delhi.
Majhi said with the establishment of Vedanta project, people of the local area would largely be benefited. "We would urge the Government to provide protection to Vedanta and ensure smooth supply of ores to the plant," he said, adding that priority should be given on employment to local people.
However, Green Kalahandi, a body of agitating tribals, said it would ensure that the Anil Agarwal promoted company did not get the mining lease.
"The interests of Dongaria Kondhs and ecology are ignored while considering Sterilite's application for forest land diversion for mining purpose," Green Kalahandi chairman and former Union Minister Bhakta Charan Das said, adding that they would knock the door of Janata Adalat on this issue.
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