Demanding extensive discussions on multi-crore fraud committed by chit fund companies across the State through an adjournment motion notice, the Opposition Congress members on Thursday created uproarious scenes in the Chhattisgarh Assembly.
Raising the issue immediately after the question hour, Congress members sought discussion on the issue.
Continuing their demand of discussion on the issue, the Opposition members created pandemonium in the House following which Speaker Gaurishankar Agrawal adjourned the proceedings for five minutes.
Terming the fraud committed by chit fund companies as a serious, Congress member Satyanarayan Sharma alleged that the State Government is trying to protect people involved in the crimes.
These illegal chit fund companies were holding around one crore accounts across the State which indicates that the fraud is much bigger than it had surfaced till now, said leader of Opposition TS Singhdeo, adding that it could be one of the biggest scam ever reported in Chhattisgarh.
Moreover, Congress members also sought to know whether the State Government would take steps to return the money of investors duped by chit fund companies on the lines of West Bengal and Odisha government.
Opposing the demand of discussion raised by Congress members, Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Ajay Chandrakar said that since discussion on the issue was already held during the question hour and it was clarified that the State Government is not trying to hide any fact, discussion on the issue again is not required.
Interrupting Chandrakar, Congress member Bhupesh Baghel said that because several new facts surfaced in the chit fund case, discussion in this connection is necessary.
Rejecting the demand of Congress members, the Speaker said the issue had already been discussed in the House and the Opposition will get sufficient chance for discussion on the issue in the coming days.
Expressing dissatisfaction with the ruling, Congress members started sloganeering and demanded immediate discussion following which the Speaker adjourned the proceedings for five minutes.
As the House was resumed, Congress members again raised the demand of discussion on chit fund issue.
Amid repeated demand of discussion by the Opposition, Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Ajay Chandrakar said in this connection, cases have been registered against 79 institutions and the State Government is going to expand its range of investigation.
Meanwhile, leader of Opposition TS Singhdeo demanded discussion on the issue under rule 139.
Responding to the demand of discussion under rule 139, the Speaker said that as discussion on the budget is scheduled, discussion under rule 139 would be carried out on the basis of availability of time.