Congress demands resignation of CM and three ministers

Continuing its tirade against the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) over the large scale irregularities in implementation of the Mahatma Gandhi National Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), the Congress today demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik as well as three ministers- Raghunath Mohanty, Sanjeev Sahoo and Prafulla Samal on moral grounds.

The party also stated that it will press the demand for a CBI probe into the scheme implementation in all 30 districts of Orissa as against eight districts selected by the Union ministry of rural development.

Addressing the media here, Chandrasekhar Sahu, working president of the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC), said, “Being the chairman of the Vigilance committee, the state Chief Minister did not convene meetings regularly to monitor implementation of MGNREGA and so he should resign on moral grounds. We also demand the resignation of former Panchayati Raj ministers- Raghunath Mohanty and Sanjeev Sahoo as well as the incumbent minister Prafulla Samal.”

The Congress will raise demand for a CBI probe into the scheme irregularities in MGNREGA in all 30 districts of Orissa. Commenting on the Congress demand for resignation, Prafulla Samal, the minister for Panchayati Raj and Information & Public Relations said, “The Congress needs to look into the process of implementation of MGNREGA in states where the party is in power instead of hurling allegations at us.” It may be noted that the Supreme Court had pulled up the Orissa government for massive irregularities in implementation of MGNREGA in the state.

Last week, the Centre informed the apex court that it has requested the CBI to probe into the alleged irregularities in the implementation of MGNREGA in Orissa.