The Opposition Congress and the BJP prepare to corner the State Government over several issues, including the increasing atrocities on women, in the monsoon session of the Assembly beginning Tuesday, even as the BJD banks upon internal contradictions in the Congress to have a smooth sailing.
The chit fund scam and the alleged involvement of some ruling party politicians will be the main issue for the Congress as well as the BJP during the session being held ahead of the urban local body (ULB) polls on September 19. Alleging that hard-earned money of lakhs of common people were defrauded by the chit fund companies with the tacit support extended by some ruling party politicians, Leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh demanded a white paper on the chit fund scam. Singh said he had written a letter to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik last month, but there was no response.
Leader of the BJP Legislature Party Jaynarayan Mishra also said his party will make the chit fund scam a major issue during the session.
The BJD should respond to the allegations that some of its leaders had encouraged and promoted some fraud companies, Mishra said.
Besides, there are also several other issues which the Congress will raise during the session. Farmers are the worst sufferers during the 13-year BJD rule, Singh said and added that the growing number of suicides by the farmers is a pointer. The irregularities in the distribution of BPL rice, the crumbling health and education systems will also be raised.
Government chief whip Prabhat Kumar Tripathy, however, said the State Government is prepared to discuss all such allegations. Besides, the ruling party will also raise issues, including the bad fiscal management of the UPA-II, which has led to price rise and the demand for special category State status for Odisha.
Alleging that Food Security Bill of the Centre has been brought keeping election in mind, Tripathy said the BJD wants some amendments in the Bill and it will also be raised. The legislature parties of the BJD, Congress and BJP will meet on Monday to finalise their strategies for the session.