Bhubaneswar, Jan 19 (IANS) The Opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Monday demanded the immediate removal of Mines Minister Bibhuti Bhusan Jena from the Council of Ministers, alleging his involvement in the theft of minor minerals.

Addressing a press conference held here on Monday, BJD spokesperson and Media Coordinator Dr. Lenin Mohanty alleged that since the BJP came to power in the state, incidents of sand theft and mining theft have increased alarmingly.

He said that the regional party has consistently alleged that this theft is taking place with the patronage of the ruling party.

“As a result of theft carried out under government patronage, revenue from minor minerals, which stood at Rs 1,485 crore in 2023–24, has declined sharply to Rs 600 crore in 2024–25. Similarly, revenue from major minerals has fallen from Rs 50,000 crore to Rs 34,000 crore,” Mohanty alleged.

The senior BJD leader further stated that although the regional party has repeatedly brought these thefts to the notice of the state government and demanded stringent action, it has been to no avail.

Referring to the recent raids by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) at the residences of sand and black stone mafias in Ganjam district, the BJD spokesperson claimed that the recent ED raid in the district clearly established that the Mines Minister’s representative himself was involved in theft.

“In a letter signed by the Mines Minister himself and addressed to the District Collector, Sunil Patra was officially recognized as his representative in the Mining, Police, and Court departments. After Sunil Patra’s involvement in sand theft was exposed in the ED raid, it has become clear that the minister has direct involvement in this theft,” alleged Mohanty.

The BJD spokesperson demanded the immediate ouster of Jena from the Council of Ministers, claiming that the recent ED raids exposed his involvement in the theft of minor minerals. He dared Chief Minister Majhi to remove Jena to prove his competence.

–IANS

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