BJP to seek Guv's nod to file case against CM on dal scam

Stepping up its ante against the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in the multi-crore dal scam in Orissa, the BJP today said, it will seek the permission of the state Governor to file criminal cases against the state Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, axed minister for women and child development Pramila Mallick and officials responsible for the scam.

"The incidents of supply of insect-infected dal to schools and Anganwadi centres under the Mid Day Meal and Supplementary Nutrition Programme (SNP) are rampant in the state and the state Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik needs to tender an apology to the people of the state. The state government also needs to confiscate the poor quality dal procured and conduct health check ups of those who have consumed it”, Kirit Somaya, BJP”s national general secretary and leader of the visiting 12-member fact finding team of the party told reporters here.

The BJP has also decided to prepare a comprehensive report on different irregularities in Orissa, including MGNREGA scam, coal scam, mining scam and dal scam. The preliminary report will be ready before March 8 and the final report, which will be ready by April 8, will be submitted to the President of India, Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) and Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG).

A 12-member fact finding team led by Somaya arrived in Orissa on Monday to visit different districts and collect samples of poor quality dal given to children and women.

The dal scam had snowballed into a major controversy in the state with the Opposition political parties cornering the ruling party on the issue. Activists of the Youth Congress in the state led by its president Pradeep Majhi staged a silent dharana outside the Raj Bhavan and submitted a memorandum to governor M C Bhandare demanding a CBI probe into the issue.

Amidst raging controversy over the pulses scam, estimated at around Rs 700 crore, the state minister for women & child development Pramila Mallick had resigned on Saturday.