Intensifying its attack against the State Government over the chit fund scam, the Congress on Tuesday held a rally and gheraoed the State Assembly demanding resignation of Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Sanjay Dasburma for his alleged chit fund link.
Hundreds of Congress workers led by PCC president Prasad Harichandan participated in the agitation at the lower PMG here. They demanded ouster of Minister Dasburma on moral ground saying that he received a Pajero SUV gift from Artha Tatwa company chief Pradip Sethy.
Congress workers also hit out Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for shielding Dasburma.
Notably, the CBI had served a notice to Dasburma to appear before it over the SUV issue. However, the Minister sent his advocate along with documents of the vehicle to the CBI office. He had said the Pajero vehicle was bought with a loan and was not gifted by anyone as alleged by Congress leader lalatendu Bidyadhar (lulu) Mohapatra. However, refusing to buy the Minister’s plea, the Congress demanded Dasburma’s scalp.
Former PCC chief Niranjan Patnaik said while the State Government had earlier spent huge money in stalling a CBI probe into chit fund scam, the investigation being conducted by the central agency following a Supreme Court direction has now exposed involvement of several leaders of the ruling party. Recalling that the Chief Minister had removed several Ministers who came under shadow of corruption in the past, the Congress said Patnaik should apply the same principle in the case of Dasburma.
Moreover, despite the Central Government’s warning, the Chief Minister had not only allowed a tie-up with a chit fund firm but also attended its function, the Congress leaders alleged.
“We demand interrogation of the Chief Minister by CBI for his role in the chit fund scam and initiation of criminal proceedings against him,” leader of Opposition in Assembly Narasingh Mishra said.
There was tussle between the State police and the Congress workers while they wanted to break the police barricade. Among others, senior Congress leaders and former Union Minister Srikant Jena, Chandrasekhar Sahu, Chiranjib Biswal, Congress Chief Whip Taraprasad Bahinipati, Suresh Kumar Rautray and Sivananada Ray were present.