While the demand for removal of Justice Madan Mohan Das from heading the Judicial Commission of Enquiry into the chit fund scam has picked up steam, hundreds of BJP activists on Monday gheraoed the Commission’s office in Cuttack while Congress resorted to a State-wide agitation.
To up the ante against Justice Das for his controversial statements on investors in chit fund companies and giving clean chit to the State Government made last week at a ruling BJD lawyers’ forum meeting in Cuttack, the BJP will hold demonstrations across the State by its organisational district units on Tuesday.
“We request the retired judge to relieve himself from the Commission of Enquiry forthwith, or the State Government should remove him by appointing another retired judge of the High Court to conduct a fresh judicial inquiry,” said BJP State vice president Nayan Mohanty.
Earlier the BJP activists of Cuttack district and Cuttack city led by the party leaders marched towards the Commissioner’s office located inside the State police headquarters from Gouri Shankar Park raising slogans and holding placards. The BJP workers had a minor scuffle with the city police when they were stopped by the latter on the way.
The Congress too resorted to State-wide stir demanding removal of Justice Das and dismissal of Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Sanjay Dasburma.
In the capital city, party activists took to streets by holding a rally from Power House Square to the ADM office and submitted a memorandum to the Governor through the ADM.
“We will protest till Justice Das quits. The Congress workers will intensify the protest not only against Justice Das but also against the tainted Minister,” said senior Congress leader Suresh Routray.
Party spokesperson Sulochana Das too decried the statement of Justice Das and said, “Today our workers staged protest at all district headquarters as we felt that the statement of Justice Das has exposed the true skin of the State Government and its attitude to the duped chit fund investors.”
The Congress workers also burnt the effigies of Justice Das and Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Dasburma at several places.