Naveen Patnaik involved in mega mining scam: Jena

Central Minister of State (Independent charge) in the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Srikant Kumar Jena today accused Odisha Chief Minister Navin Patnaik of being involved in a multi-crore mining scam in the state. At a press conference in Delhi, Jena told reporters, “Patnaik must quit… He has caused a loss of more than Rs 4 lakh crore to the state exchequer… There’s a big collusion of the Odisha government with mining lords. Patnaik must be operating through his friends in Delhi.” He also said that the Odisha scam surpasses the mining scandals of Karnataka and Goa. [caption id=“attachment_515282” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Naveen Patnaik. PTI[/caption] “Patnaik’s real face has been unmasked. Scams have been happening in the state since 10 years. He has sold all the rich bauxite mines in Odisha. I want the state mining corporation to take over bauxite mining,” he said. “A case has been pending in Odisha High Court since six years… I have been forced to expose the scam.” After Jena’s allegations, a ‘furious’ Biju Janata Dal (BJD) hit back at the Union Minister, saying he wanted to grab the limelight.  “Jena is making allegations as he was denied a plum post in the recent reshuffle of Union council of ministers,” the party said. BJD MP Pinaki Misra said that the Shah Commission is looking into the mining scam in all states. “Mr. Jena should hold his horses, one should just laugh off these allegations, " he said. Jena hails from Ratnagiri district of Odisha. He represents the Balasore parliamentary constituency in the 15th Lok Sabha. Meanwhile, Congress has backed the minister saying the allegations are a ‘serious concern’.