Congress to corner BJD on chit fund scam

Intensifying its attack against the state government over the chit fund scam, the Odisha Congress Tuesday decided to hold protest rallies and dharnas at district headquarters demanding CBI inquiry against chief minister and his resignation.

The party will stage dharnas at every district headquarter 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov 29 and submit memorandum to the district collectors addressed to the Odisha governor.

"We have decided to hold protest rallies and dharnas across the state demanding interrogation of the chief minister by CBI for his role in the chit fund scam. We also demand...initiation of criminal proceedings against him," leader of opposition and senior Congress leader Narasingh Mishra told media here.

Mishra said if the state government does not accept their demands, the party would intensify the protest and hold agitations at block level.

"The agitation will continue till the demands are met," said the Congress leader. Stating that the BJD leaders have looted the people with the assistance of chit fund companies, he said now the government wants to empty the state coffer by announcing corpus fund for the chit fund depositors.

He, however, asked the government to release the corpus fund worth of Rs. 300 crore soon to the duped people.

Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president Jaydev Jena said if the chief minister does not resign over his involvement in the chit fund scam, the party would resort to civil disobedience movement, for which the government will be responsible.

Speaking over the assembly proceedings being disturbed by the ruling party, the leader of opposition said the government is on back foot in discussing the chit fund issue even the party has moved a motion in the house.

Meanwhile, the Odisha BJP Tuesday took out a rally and gheraoed the office of Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC) in Cuttack demanding interrogation of the chief minister into the chitgate.

"We will reach out to people exposing the state government, which is not ready to discuss the issue in assembly," said BJP president K.V. Singhdeo.