New Delhi: Congress on Thursday stepped up attack
on Naveen Patnaik Government by seeking President Pratibha
Patil`s intervention in ensuring an independent probe into
alleged "large-scale corruption" in Orissa.
A delegation led by president of Orissa Pradesh Congress
Committee Niranjan Patnaik submitted a "charge-sheet" against
the state government to the President, drawing her attention
to what it described the multi-crore mining scandal and a
"mother of all scams".
The leaders detailed the alleged irregularities in
implementation of mid-day meal programme, the nutrition
programme, NREGA and in procurement of paddy.
"Orissa has to bear the ignominy of being the first state
to face investigation by the CBI into irregularities and
corruption in MGNREGA at the directive of the Supreme Court,"
the party said in a statement.
Those who were in the delegation included CLP leader
Bhupender Singh and also party MPS and MLAs along with senior
leader Jagdish Tytler who is AICC in charge of the party
affairs in the state.
The delegation also alleged "undue favour" by the
Government to certain industrial groups.
Besides, it claimed that the number of districts affected
by Left wing extremism has gone up from a mere four to 22 out
of the total 30 districts.
The Congress is in opposition in Orissa for over a decade.
PTI
