Biju Janata Dal leaders involved in mine scam: BJP

Bhubaneswar, Nov 6 : The Bharatiya Janata Party Friday alleged that some top leaders of the ruling Biju Janata Dal are involved in the mining scam in Orissa.

After visiting the mining areas where large scale illegal mining has been reported, a team of BJP leaders alleged that the illegal mining "had the blessings of top leaders".

"Large scale illegal mining of such magnitude can't be possible without the blessings of ruling Biju Janata Dal and his number two. It is going on since years," alleged BJP MP Balbir Punj, who led a team of MPs for an assessment of the 'illegal mining'.

The team also alleged that though an inquiry has been ordered "it is just an eye wash".

The party demanded a CBI inquiry into the matter and said they would give a memorandum to the prime minister soon in this regard.

The team visited six mines in the state. The team included BJP MP Govind Mishra, Ramesh Singh, Rudra Pani, Chandan Mitra and Balbir Punj.

--IANS