Bhubaneswar: Logjam continued in the Odisha Assembly on Tuesday as the Opposition created a ruckus in the house demanding the resignation of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Food and Consumer Welfare Minister Sanjay Daburma and chit fund Commission head Justice MM Das.
As soon as the proceedings of the day began, the Opposition Congress and BJP members stormed into the well of the House shouting slogans against the trio. They waved banners and placards demanding the resignation of the Chief Minister and Dasburma.
They also demanded the ouster of Justice M.M. Das, who heads the panel probing the multi crore-rupee chit fund scam for his remark against the duped chit fund investors.
The uproarious scenes in the house forced the speaker to adjourn the house till 3 pm.
“The BJD MLAs are avoiding the chit fund issue as they are badly trapped after Justice Das’s remark on duped investors,” said Congress spokesperson Tara Parasad Bahinipati.
“The ministers and MLAs of the ruling party are involved in the chit fund scam and they have links with arrested criminal sibling Sushil and Sushant Dhalasamant. Besides, a BJD MP is presently lodged in jail for his involvement in the chit fund scam. So the ruling party is trying to distract the public by raising other issues in the house,” Bahinipati added.
“The government is now left with no other option. I am surprised how the Chief Minister, who used take strong action against his party members for their involvement in any scam, is now silent. How can the CM remain silent about the involvement of Sanjay Dasburma in the multi crore chit fund scam in the state?” asked BJP legislator Pradip Purohit.
When asked about the Speaker’s ruling not to discuss the chit find scam in the House as the matter is still sub judice, Purohit said, “The speaker must not support the ruling party. There is no problem in discussing the number of identified duped investors, how much money is there in the corpus fund, progress in Justice MM Das Commission’s probe.”