In a unique way to corner Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, the Opposition Congress on Thursday launched an 'FIR Campaign' against him accusing him of diverting 10 kg of rice every month from each BPl family under the public distribution system (PDS).
Spearheading the campaign, PCC president Jayadev Jena went to the lalbag police station here along with BPl card holders and lodged written complaints against the Chief Minister and urged the police to investigate into the allegations and take appropriate legal actions.
lalbag police station Inspector Jayanta Kumar Mohapatra, when contacted, informed that he has received a total of 160 complaints against the Chief Minister. He, however, was quick to add that he has not registered a single case till evening, although the FIRs were filed around noon. "In case we decide to register a case in this matter, we will register a single case because the place, cause of occurrence, cause of action and the accused are the same in each FIR," Mohapatra said, adding that he has been instructed by his seniors not to take any action on the FIRs now.
The police inspector, however, refused to divulge what instructions he has received from his seniors on it and also refused to reveal as to under what charges the accused is going to be booked in case such a complaint is lodged against a common man. Before leading the victims to file the FIRs, PCC chief Jena addressing a mammoth rally here alleged that the Naveen Patnaik-led BJD Government is distributing 25 kg of rice to each BPl family every month, while the Centre is supplying 35 kg of rice for the purpose. A senior Congress leader here said the allegation made in the FIR demands registration of case under Section 406 of IPC, which invites punishment for criminal breach of trust. If proven guilty under this section, the convict shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both, he added.
Similarly, reports reaching here said Congress leaders in Bhubaneswar, Brahmapur, Baleswar, Jatani and several other places across the State marched towards their respective local police stations along with BPl card holders and lodged complaints against the Chief Minister. Reacting to the FIR campaign against him, Chief Minister Patnaik speaking to the media in Bhubaneswar said his Government is providing 25 kg of rice at Re 1 per kg to each BPl family every month and the Congress campaign is politically motivated. "This (FIR Campaign) is an exercise in false political propaganda by them (Congress)," Patnaik commented.