Who does one believe? South Korean steel major Posco, Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik or Mines Minister B.K. Handique on what is being touted as the biggest foreign project yet planned in the country.
First, Handique sprang a surprise a few days ago when he claimed that Posco officials had themselves told him they were looking at shifting their proposed $10.5 billion steel project out of Orissa because of difficulties in acquiring land. Patnaik then denied any such move and politely added that it was an unintentional error committed by the union minister.
But a strong statement from Posco is what seems to have caused a major embarrassment to the mines minister. “It is a baseless report,” the South Korean giant said in a statement, mincing no words while saying that the project was staying in the state.
Now mention the name Posco to Handique and his hands vigorously gesture a no, saying: “Sorry, no more questions.”
