With a special Delhi court summoning former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in connection with allocation of Talabira coal block to Hindalco Industries, the Opposition parties in Odisha have renewed their demand for interrogation of chief minister Naveen Patnaik by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
Both the opposition parties, Congress and BJP asserted that the CBI need to interrogate the chief minister since he had recommended the coal block allocation in favour of Hindalco.
"As a probe agency, the CBI is free to interrogate anybody. But it is unfortunate that the CBI is yet to call the Odisha chief minister for interrogation. As far as the former prime minister is concerned, he has already clarified that he had taken steps to allot the Talabira coal block to Hindalco based on the recommendation of the state chief minister," said veteran Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the state assembly, Narasingha Mishra. Echoing similar views, state BJP unit president, K V Singhdeo said, "Whether it is the former prime minister or the chief minister, none can escape the law. Based on the recommendations of the Odisha chief minister, the former prime minister had decided to allot the Talabira coal block in favour of Hindalco Industries. Its only a matter of time that Patnaik may be summoned by the CBI."
"Recommending a coal block and taking a final decision on its allocation are separate issues. The responsibility of allocation rests with the final decision making authority. The former prime minister was also the coal minister and it was during his tenure that the Talabira coal block was allocated to Hindalco," Satapathy said. In December last year, the state BJP unit had demanded that the CBI must interrogate chief minister, Naveen Patnaik for his role in recommending Talabira II coal block for Hindalco.
Aditya Birla Group owned Hindalco Industries was awarded the Talabira II coal mine in June 2005 jointly with Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd (NLC) and Coal India subsidiary, Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd (MCL) despite initial objections of Coal India Ltd (CIL) and then coal secretary, P C Parakh.
The objection was based on the premise that Hindalco was already allotted a coal mine named Talabira I in 1993 for its captive power use.
However, during a screening committee meeting to finalise the allocation, the Odisha government had supported allocation of the Talabira II mine in favour of Hindalco, saying it would mean large scale employment generation in the state as the company will use coal for its aluminium smelting unit.
Both the opposition parties, Congress and BJP asserted that the CBI need to interrogate the chief minister since he had recommended the coal block allocation in favour of Hindalco.
"As a probe agency, the CBI is free to interrogate anybody. But it is unfortunate that the CBI is yet to call the Odisha chief minister for interrogation. As far as the former prime minister is concerned, he has already clarified that he had taken steps to allot the Talabira coal block to Hindalco based on the recommendation of the state chief minister," said veteran Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the state assembly, Narasingha Mishra. Echoing similar views, state BJP unit president, K V Singhdeo said, "Whether it is the former prime minister or the chief minister, none can escape the law. Based on the recommendations of the Odisha chief minister, the former prime minister had decided to allot the Talabira coal block in favour of Hindalco Industries. Its only a matter of time that Patnaik may be summoned by the CBI."
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But Amar Prasad Satapathy, ruling Biju Janata dal (BJD) leader reasoned that recommending a coal block did not amount to offence.
"Recommending a coal block and taking a final decision on its allocation are separate issues. The responsibility of allocation rests with the final decision making authority. The former prime minister was also the coal minister and it was during his tenure that the Talabira coal block was allocated to Hindalco," Satapathy said. In December last year, the state BJP unit had demanded that the CBI must interrogate chief minister, Naveen Patnaik for his role in recommending Talabira II coal block for Hindalco.
Aditya Birla Group owned Hindalco Industries was awarded the Talabira II coal mine in June 2005 jointly with Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd (NLC) and Coal India subsidiary, Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd (MCL) despite initial objections of Coal India Ltd (CIL) and then coal secretary, P C Parakh.
The objection was based on the premise that Hindalco was already allotted a coal mine named Talabira I in 1993 for its captive power use.
However, during a screening committee meeting to finalise the allocation, the Odisha government had supported allocation of the Talabira II mine in favour of Hindalco, saying it would mean large scale employment generation in the state as the company will use coal for its aluminium smelting unit.