BJP demands prosecution of Naveen for Orissa ''dal'' scam

Bhubaneswar, Feb 8 (PTI) In a fresh salvo against BJDgovernment in Orissa over ''dal'' scam, BJP today demandedprosecution of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and othersalleging they had played with the lives of about one crorechildren and pregnant women by feeding them infected pulses.

"BJP will soon take steps for initiating criminalproceedings against the chief minister and others involved indal scam and seek the Governor''s sanction to prosecute them,"party National Secretary Kirit Somaiya told reporters here.

Terming irregularities in purchase of ''dal'' formid-day meal (MDM) scheme and supplementary nutritionprogramme (SNP) as the worst scam of 2010, Somaiya said theresignation of Pramila Mallik as Women and Child DevelopmentMinisterover the scandal was not enough.

"We wonder as to why police have not yet taken propernote of the scam which involves criminal conspiracy. Thoughstate vigilance department has detected irregularities, nonehas been booked so far," he said after BJP team visitedsveral areas for an on the spot study about dal scam..

Besides taking up the matter with the police, BJPwould approach the Governor for his sanction to prosecute thechief minister, ministers and officials for illegal acts andciminal breach of trust, Somaiya said.

As the scam "grossly violated the human rights ofabout one crore beneficiaries of MDM and SNP", BJP would alsoapproach the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) forinitiating appropriate action in the matter, he said.

"NHRC should also take cognizance of the issue suomotu and act," he said.

He said the chief minsiter should tender apology andensure complete health check up of all beneficiaries of MDMand SNP within a month. .