Bharatiya Janata Party president Nitin Gadkari on Thursday led a delegation of the party's Goa unit leaders to President Pratibha Patil and sought a Central Bureau of Investigation probe into the alleged illegal mining of iron ore in the State.
Mr. Gadkari said the scam causing a loss of Rs. 25,000 crore to the exchequer took place over the last five years.
The delegation asked the President to direct the Centre to take stringent action against the wrongdoers so as to rid the State of the mining mafia and safeguard the interests of thousands earning their income on legal mining activities.
The Congress regime and the Pradesh Congress Committee were involved in the scam, the party charged.
Goa accounts for over 60 per cent of the country's iron ore exports, earning Rs.20,000 crore annually by way of foreign exchange. The BJP charged that the ruling Congress government was trying to cover up the scam.
