Sack two Ministers, Congress tells Naveen

Bhubaneswar, June 6 (UNI) Senior Congress leader and Deputy Leader in Orissa Assembly Narshingh Mishra today demanded dismissal of two cabinet ministers of Naveen Patnaik government for disposing ceiling surplus land in complete violation of the Orissa Land Reform Act.

Mr Mishra told newspersons here that Works Minister A U Singdeo from the Biju Janata Dal and Urban Development Minister K V Singdeo from the BJP, have been allegedly transferring and selling the ceiling surplus land indiscriminately violating section 40 of the Orissa Land Reform Act.

He alleged that proceedings against these two ministers, the successor of former Chief Minister R N Singdeo, for disposing of the ceiling surplus land, have been pending since the last three decades.

The Congress leader urged the Chief Minister to dispose of these cases at the earliest and take suitable action against the two ministers as per the law to prove his clean image and transparency in administration.

However, when contacted both the Works Minister and Urban Development Minister denied that they had disposed of any ceiling surplus land as alleged by Mr Mishra.

The Congress Deputy Leader further said Works Minister A U Singdeo, also MLA from Bolangir, had misutilised his MLALAD fund which should be inquired by the Chief Minister and appropriate action taken against him.

On the allegation of submission of false affidavit and property list by him, the Congress leader said he would welcome either a CBI inquiry or a judicial inquiry by a sitting high court judge into the incident and called upon the Works Minister to give his detailed list of property for similar inquiry.

The Congress Deputy leader said as per the recommendation of the Ethics Committee of the Orissa Assembly, he would submit his property list to the Assembly Speaker before making it public adding that he would quit his post if any commission or omission were detected in the list.

Mr Mishra demanded that the Chief Minister should inquire all the affidavits submitted by the MLAs during the filing of nominations and said those found furnishing false affidavit must quit the post.

UNI DP KK MSJ ND1658