Upset over the State Government’s indifference in ensuring refund of their hard earned money which they were duped of by several dubious chit-fund companies, thousands of investors under the banner of Arthika Sansthamanaka Dwara Kshyatigrastanka Milita Manch (ASDKMM) on Wednesday gheraoed the Assembly.
They also threatened to gherao the Parliament in the second week of August if the Government fails to refund their money. Senior leaders of several Opposition parties like Sajjan Sharma of BJP, Soumyaranjan Patnaik of Aama Odisha Party, Ramakrushna Panda, senior journalist Rabi Das and civil society members addressed the demonstration.
“We demand refund of money to the affected depositors and stern action against the owners and proprietors of the fraudulent chit fund companies,” said Manch convenor Jayanta Das. “Both the Government and Justice RK Patra Commission inquiring into the chit fund scam, instead of ensuring refund of depositors’ money, are working like spokespersons of chit fund companies,” alleged Das, adding that while everybody is talking about only investigation, nobody is serious to ensure refund of money.
later, a delegation met Finance Minister Pradip Amat, apprised him about the current status of chit fund depositors and handed him over a memorandum to this effect.