
PURI: Veteran politician Bijay Mahapatra lambasted Naveen Patnaik government for supporting Vedanta varsity project even after the High Court dismissed the entire process of land acquisition and adversely commented on the status of the company.
Addressing the victory celebration function of Vedanta Vishwavidyalaya Virodhi Sangram Samiti here at Beldal village today, Mahapatra demanded the resignation of the Chief Minister.
President of the samiti Benudhar Pradhan and former MLA and advisor to the samiti Umaballav Rath said that it was the victory of Lord Jagannath. Pradhan thanked the leaders of various political parties for their unconditional support.
Former Union minister Brajkishore Tripathy said that while many state and national projects are languishing for want of a few acres of land, the Chief Minister gave away thousand acres of valuable land to a multinational company on the pretext of establishing a varsity. ‘‘ We shall not relent unless and until the Chief Minister quits,’’ said Chandrasekhar Sahu, Congress leader and former Union minister.
BJP Legislature Party leader KV Singhdeo said the Chief Minister had tried hard to protect the company by suppressing facts and thus misleading the Assembly.
He said that while a ‘jail bharo andolan’ would be launched on December 3, they plan to gherao the Assembly on December 7.
A signature campaign would also be taken up to make people aware of the real happenings behind the Vedanta varsity project and the role of Naveen Patnaik government, he added.
Meanwhile, hundreds of youths took out a motor cycle rally from the main entrance to the temple this morning shouting slogans against the State Government and Naveen Patnaik.