Union Minister Srikant Jena alleged on Thursday that Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is involved in the multi-crore chit fund scam and demanded a judiciary probe into it.
Addressing a Press conference, Jena alleged that Naveen Patnaik had attended a programme of the company on request of its chairman. Patnaik’s presence at the Sea Shore function had boosted the confidence of the investors on the company, he said. So either a CBI or a judiciary probe is required, Jena demanded.
Jena said the UPA Govt has completed its nine years and has been successful in implementing several Central plans in Odisha.
Between 2005 and 2013, the Centre distributed 62 lakh job cards and spent `3,215 crore under MGNREGA. It spent `42.62 crore for support to farmers under NMMI, `10, 238 crore as Central subsidy food security under PDS system, `2,947 crore for housing under Indira Awas Yojana, `1,749 crore for clean drinking water under the National Drinking Water Programme, `3,435 crore for health under NHRM, `5,220 crore for SSA, `2, 280 crore for child welfare under Child Development Services, `97 crore for environment protection and afforestation, `8,226 crore for rural roads under PMGSY and `3,316 crore for rural electrification under Rajiv Gandhi Gramina Vidutikaran Yojana in 19,789 villages.
On the special category status, Jena said there is a war of words between BJD and Congress. “On the one hand, the State Govt is saying the State's finances are stable and viable, while on the other, it has been asking the Centre for financial assistance under special category status,” said Jena. The State Govt should give right information to the Central Government on its financial status without any misleading, he suggested.