As news circulates of the Indian Supreme Court CEC's rejection of Vedanta's grandiose schemes in Ori

As news circulates of the Indian Supreme Court CEC's rejection of Vedanta's grandiose schemes in Orissa, a Human Rights organisation reminds us of the company's other violations. Opposition members in Orissa once again demand the Chief Minister's resignation - this time with plenty of ammunition under their belts

Demand for Chief Mininster's resignation over Vedanta scandal

Sunday Times (India)

26th September 2005

Opposition demands CM’s resignation Bhubaneswar: Opposition parties led by the state Congress has demanded the resignation of chief minister Naveen Patnaik in the wake of the recommendations of the Supreme Court’s Central Empowered Committee (CEC) to revoke the environment clearance given for establishment of the alumina refinery at Lanjigarh in Kalahandi district by the Vedanta Aluminium Limited (VAL).

While president of Orissa Pradesh Congress Committee Jaydeb Jena asked Naveen to step down for showing undue favour to VAL, Orissa Gana Parishad (OGP) chief Bijay Mohapatra alleged that the shady deal has torn away mask of transparency donned by the Chief Minister.

Meanwhile the state Government in a bid to get away from the line of fire maintained that the deal with Vedanta allowing mining of bauxite ore from Niyamgiri hills was signed during the Congress regime in 1997.

The CEC’s report said that the casual approach, lackadaisical manner and the haste with which the entire issue of forest and environment clearance for the alumina refinery project has been dealt with smack of undue favour.

If a proper study had been initiated before embarking on the project and the objections from environmental and ecological angles known, in all probability, the project would have been abandoned, the report further said.

Addressing mediapersons, the State Congress president Jayadev Jena alleged that the CEC report had exposed violation of laws by Vedanta and were obviously backed by the Government.