Bhubaneswar, Mar 10 (PTI) Taking strong exception to the Orissa government moving the Supreme Court challenging the Centre's decision of rejecting bauxite mining at Niyamgiri hills for Vedanta, opposition BJP and Congress today raised question on the state's intention.

"Who is deciding the future of Niyamgiri, the state government or the Vedanta company," asked state BJP's vice-president Ashok Sahu.

OPCC vice-president Sibananda Ray also accused the state government of protecting interest of Vedanta against the tribal masses.

The Centre had rejected a mining plan atop Niyamgiri hills in order to protect the interest of Dongaria Kandha, a primitive tribal group. "It is strange that a democratic government bats for the company and not for the people," he said.