Odisha Jan Morcha (OJM) president Pyarimohan Mohapatra on Saturday alleged that Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is trying to divert the public mind from the chit fund scam case by declaring schemes like distribution of 100 umbrellas to the poor people.
As many as five Ministers and eight MlAs of the ruling BJD are involved in the chit fund frauds and all of them are close to Patnaik, he said.
Speaking at a public meeting here, Mohapatra demanded that the Government immediately seize the properties of the directors of all chit fund companies so that the duped investors get their money back from the sale of these assets. He also demanded a CBI inquiry into the chit fund scams to expose all those involved in the frauds.
He said Naveen Patnaik should have demanded at least `9,000 crore from the Centre for the KBK region, but he has only sought `4,500 crore. Recalling his old days’ friendship with Patnaik, he said he had made a proposal of Rs 6,000 crore for the KBK region, but at last Patnaik gave a proposal of Rs 4,500 crore.
Mohapatra also criticised Patnaik for his “failure” in pressing the demand for Special Category State status to Odisha. The Chief Minister does not know what should be demanded and what should not be from the Centre, he remarked.
On one hand, Patnaik is claiming that he has made rapid strides in developing the State and on the other he is demanding Special Category status. This is a paradoxical, he said.
OJM general secretary Sunil Chandr Nayak, Prasanta Naik and Senapati Naik were present at the meeting.