Naveen is shielding politicians in mining scam: Pyari Mohan Mohapatra

Bhubaneswar: Suspended rebel Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader and MP Pyari Mohan Mohapatra on Monday accused Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik of shielding politicians involved in the mining scam though he (Naveen) was not personally involved in any scam.

"The Chief Minister did not allow state vigilance to begin persecution against certain politicians allegedly involved in mining scam. I had requested the chief minister several times to allow the vigilance to do its work. But he did not clear the file," Mohapatra told reporters in Bhubaneswar.

Stating that the then director of vigilance wing had informed him that the Chief Minister was sitting over the file, Mohapatra said Patnaik feared that some of his ministers or partymen might be involved in the mining scam.

Pyari Mohan Mohapatra says the CM did not allow state vigiliance to begin prosecution against certain politicians.

The dissident leader dared the Chief Minister to order a CBI probe into all corruption charges against him, Mohapatra said rejecting initiation of vigilance case against him. "I reject vigilance probe as the allegations against me have been made by some MLAs from Naveen Niwas. Therefore, Naveen is one of the accusers," he said.

Giving clean chit to the chief minister, Mohapatra who was suspended from the party after being accused of leading a coup against the BJD government, said "Patnaik has no involvement either in the mining scam or in dal scam. There have been certain major irregularities in mining sector."

To a query, Mohapatra ruled out resigning as Rajya Sabha member following his suspension from the ruling BJD.

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