Bhubaneswar, Dec. 26: The state units of the BJP and the Congress have demanded a CBI inquiry into the mining scam that rocked the state in 2009. While the BJP today targeted both the Congress and the BJD on the issue of mining scam, the Congress has criticised the BJD on the scam.

Both the BJP and the Congress said Justice MB Shah Commission had found large-scale illegal mining operation in the state during its inquiry. The Commission started its inquiry in 2010. Though the Justice MB Shah Commission’s inquiry report was submitted five months back, it is yet to be tabled in parliament.

However, the buzz in the media circles is that Justice Shah in his report has stated that mining activities had taken place beyond the permitted level of mining. Ninety-four of 192 iron ore mining leases in the state did not have the mandatory environmental clearance.

Addressing reporters today, BJP senior leader Biswa Bhusan Harichandan said: “The nexus between the BJD and the Congress has been exposed after Justice M.B. Shah Commission submitted his report on the mining scam.”

Yesterday, former Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Niranjan Patnaik had also raised the issue. “The state government should hand over the investigation into the mining scam to CBI.”

Patnaik said the Odisha government must implement the recommendation of the Justice Shah Commission.

Dubbing the mining scam as “the biggest in the history of Odisha”, Patnaik slammed the state Government for being in a perpetual state of denial on the mining scam while claiming to be the cleanest government. “How can such huge loot take place, if the government was indeed honest?” Patnaik said.