Bhubaneswar, Dec 28 (Odisha.in) Orissa steel and mines minister Padamnav Behera resigned Friday over allegations that he is involved in the communal clashes that rocks Kandhamal his home district.
“In the last few days misinformation and misleading statements about my role in my district have been spread through the media” Behera told media persons.
“To remove this public misconception as well as to restore age old harmony between scheduled caste and scheduled tribe in my district I have decided to tender my resignation” Behera who submitted his resignation to the chief minister Naveen Patnaik Friday evening said.
Behera represents, Phulbani assembly constituency in the district. Senior Minister Behera was holding a number of departments and was one of the most favoured ministers of the Chief Minister.
He was in active non-Congress politics since past 14 years and was initiated to politics by late Biju Patnaik, father of Naveen Patnaik.
After submitting his resignation before Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Behera told media persons that though he was in no way concerned with the communal tension in Kondhmal district, a conspiracy was hatched his opponents to defame him by holding him responsible for the situation.
Since he wants peace and communal harmony in the district he has stepped out from the Government to save the image of the Government.
Reacting to media persons on resignation of Behera, Chief Minister Patnaik said, ” it was his decision and I have not asked him to resign. ” Resignation of Behera has been accepted.
Behera was allegedly instrumental in creating disgarmony between the tribals and schedule caste “Panas” speaking ” Kui ” dilects by making a bid to declare them as tribals for availing all facilities as tribals over, ” jal, jami and junggle” in the district, to which the native tribals of the district were opposing teeth and nail.
Prior to Behera’s resignation in an interesting development, the Advisory Committee and Achedule Castes and Scheduled Tribes have recommended to the Government not to give tribal status to the ” Panas ” speaking ” Kuidilects”.
Odisha.in