SC has not stayed bail of Maoists: CM

BHUBANESWAR: The State Government on Thursday said the process to facilitate release of some Maoists in exchange for freedom of legislator Jhina Hikaka is on and the Supreme Court has not stayed it.“The Supreme Court has not put any stay on the Government’s decision of facilitating bail for jailed Left wing extremists,” Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik told reporters on his return from Delhi.The Supreme Court on Thursday issued notices to both the Centre and the State Government on a petition seeking to restrain release of jailed Maoists in exchange for the MLA.Chief Secretary BK Patnaik said the State Government has 14 days to reply to the notice. “We are yet to receive the order and will respond accordingly,” he said.The Government had announced that it would withdraw cases against 13 persons, including five Maoists, and facilitate release of 25 prisoners to end the hostage crisis.Meanwhile, four persons have been granted bail and two are already out of jail.To a query on the growing differences between him and senior party leader Pyari Mohan Mohapatra, the Chief Minister said the BJD had been working for the poor for the last 12 years and all members of the party were committed to the development of the State.On the Pipili ‘gangrape’ case, the Chief Minister said the Government had already initiated action against the accused, erring police officers and negligent doctors. The National Commission for Scheduled Caste had recommended criminal proceedings against the delinquent government officers and local MLA and former minister Pradeep Maharathy.To another query, the Chief Minister said  since the Government had already reduced VAT on kerosene, LPG and other petroleum products, further reduction of tax was not possible.