Illegal hemp cultivation;Congress demands CBI inquiry

Bhubaneswar, Nov 20 (UNI) Alleging the involvement of State Steel and Mines Minister Padmanav Behera in the recent recovery of massive illegal ganja cultivation in Phulbani, Congress members today demanded a CBI inquiry and strong action against the culprits.

The issue cropped up during the Zero hour when Congress Chief Whip Satya Bhusan Sahu said a joint operation of police and excise officials had come across hemp cultivation over hundreds of acres in two blocks under Phulbani district.

He said investigation revealed that the illegals ganja cultivation had been going on in the area with the activepatronage of a ruling political party leader of the area.

His party colleague L B Mohapatra alleged that Mr Padmanav Behera's brother, involved in the illegal hemp cultivation was absconding after the raid.

Mr Mohapatra said police had arrested two people, while the excise officials had registered a FIR against ten others, including the brother of the minister.

Congress members Anup Sai and Debashish Pattnaik demanded a specific ruling from Speaker Maheswar Mohanty, while Ajyanti Pradhan, a Congress member, demanded that the matter be investigated as the area where quintals of ganja trees were seized was very close to the residence of the BJD minister.

Mr Tara Bahinipati (Congress) wanted to know the relation of the two accused, Abharthya Behera and Pradeep Behera, with the minister and urged the Speaker to direct the government to conduct an inquiry into the matter.

Acting on a tip-off the Phulbani police and the Excise officials had uncovered a massive illegal hemp cultivation spread over an area of a few km inside the forest. Police had decided to set the entire forest on fire to destroy the cannabis trees.

Police said large part of agricultural land was also used for hemp cultivation in the backdrop of maize cultivation in order to hide the cannabis trees.

The state Steel and Mines Minister, who was not present in the House when the matter was raised by the Congress members during special mentions, rushed to the House to give his clarification.

He stood up to say the Opposition had unnecessarily dragged his name into the illegal ganja cultivation. Describing him self as championing the cause of prohibition of liquor in the state, the minister offered to retire from the public life if his involvement in anyway was proved with the illegal ganja cultivation in his constituency.

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