With FDI-in-retail issue hotting up and all eyes on Monday’s all-party meeting, the Congress on Sunday asked the BJD to come clear on it. Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh asked BJD chief Naveen Patnaik to clear his party’s stand on FDI in the interest of the State. Digvijay was here to attend the national convention of All-India Kshatriya Federation (AIKF).
Naveen had remained non-committal on the issue on the plea that FDI-in-retail does not concern Odisha, as none of the cities has more than 10 lakh population. In a surprise move last week, three party members rose in support of the no-confidence motion moved by the Trinamool Congress in the Lok Sabha. The party then said it gave moral support to Trinamool.
Digvijay was also critical of the Naveen Government on coalgate and alleged large-scale loot in the State. The AICC general secretary said the party would raise the issue of loot from unleased mining areas before the Justice Shah Commission. Comparison between total mineral export figures from the State and those exported by Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC) and other lease holders will bring out the truth, he told mediapersons.
Referring to the mining scam, Digvijay said, “now the State Government has imposed fine of `70,000 crore on some mine owners for illegal raising,” and asked what was the Chief Minister doing for the last 12 years.
Fielding a volley of questions, Digvijay left no opportunity to taunt activist-turned-politician Arvind Kejriwal for adopting the campaign theme of the Congress during the last elections __ ‘Aam Aadmi’ __ to name his political party. It reflects his bankruptcy of ideas, Digvijay said.
He, however, said Congress has not patented the idea and Kejriwal can use it for his political party.
The Congress leader also reminded Kejriwal that he had raised 27 questions, mainly on Kejriwal’s service career, foreign funding of his NGOs and alleged transfer of funds raised for India Against Corruption (IAC) and was yet to get a reply. “He has replied to none of my questions,” Digvijay said.
Turing the heat on CAG in the background of fresh row over 2G auction loss figure, Digvijay said the presumptive loss of `1.7 lakh crore was inflated and this has been stated by former auditor R P Singh.
R P Singh had also said that PAC Chairman Murli Manohar Joshi had called audit officials from CAG office to his house on a holiday for preparation of the parliamentary panel’s report on the scam.