Congress ready to drag CM to court

In BALCO land acquisition

Raipur, July 19, 2012

Congress is ready to drag Chief Minister Raman Singh to court on BALCO’s reportedly illegal land acquisition in Korba. In this connection, PCC office-bearers and senior party leaders will gather in Congress Bhawan at 11 am and then head on to district court.

The Congress alleges that the CM and former Chief Secretary P Joy Oommen had taken special interest into the matter of illegal acquisition of 2780 acre land by BALCO and ordered for its regularisation. Consequently, the government incurred revenue loss of Rs 140 crore.

The party had handed over a memorandum to Governor in this connection and demanded probe and prosecution against the CM and CS under Prevention of Corruption Act on March 17, 2012. According to rules, the matter can be put before the court if Governor does not take any decision on it in 90 days.  

According to information, party leader Bhupesh Baghel will file petition in court against the CM.

The party also plans to sue the CM into and controversial allotment of provisional lease (PL) to Ma Bamleshwari Minerals for mining in Rajnandgaon. The party says that the PL to Ma Bamleshwari Minerals was allotted by tempering the documents in 2005-06.

However, for this, the party will either seek permission from the Governor first or would straightaway file case against CM on Friday.

On the other hand, with reports of Lok Ayog and Rogda dam coming to fore after being tabled in the state Assembly, the party is likely to target the government in the coming days. The Congress had already expressed its displeasure over the short monsoon session terming it insufficient to discuss on all the major issues.

Although, the party prominently raised the issues like uterus removal, naxal violence, increasing crime, power cuts and inordinate power bills, black marketing of fertilisers and high fees charged by the private schools but it did not find satisfactory reply from the government.

Now, under its mission 2013 and 2014, the Congress will raise these issues at block, district and state levels in different phases in coming days.