Bhubaneswar, Dec. 27: The Congress today dared Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik to order a CBI inquiry into the mining scam.

“If he claims himself to be clean and transparent, let him order a CBI probe into the multi-crore mining scam and take stern measures against those found guilty,” said Congress leader Narasingha Mishra.

Refuting Naveen’s allegation yesterday that the “Congress is corrupt”, Mishra said: “The chief minister of a state should not have made such irresponsible statement.”

“Nowhere the Congress has been indicted by the court of law on corruption charges. Rather, Orissa High Court and the Lokpal has indicted the Naveen Patnaik government,” he said.

“His statement is like Satan quoting the Bible,” he said.

Referring to the report of the Justice M.B. Shah Commission, which probed the mining scam, Mishra said it had reportedly said mining operation was going on in Odisha without lease and beyond permissible limit.

There was also violation of mining and forest laws. In this context, the panel had reportedly recommended for a CBI probe into the scam, he said.

Stating that the Congress had been demanding a CBI inquiry into the scam since long and a PIL was pending in the high court on the issue, he said Naveen had rejected the demand on the plea that the vigilance probe was going on.

But the vigilance had not been able to make much progress in unearthing the scam.

Ridiculing the “hollow claims” of Naveen about his commitment for a strong Lokpal and Lokayukta institution, Mishra said he had announced publicly in 2011 that a strong Lokayukta Act would be enacted in Odisha. “However, his announcement is yet to materialise,” he said.

Though Lokpal Justice P.K. Patra had died almost a year ago, his successor is yet to be appointed, he said. “It seems Naveen is afraid that if there is a strong Lokayukta and Lokpal in Odisha, his corrupt deeds would be exposed,” he said.