Oppn to corner ruling BJD over ''dal scam'' in Orissa house

Bhubaneswar, Feb 13 (PTI) The budget session of OrissaAssembly beginning tomorrow is likely to be a stormy affairwith opposition parties gearing up to attack the BJDgovernment over the issue of corruption including the alleged''dal scam''.

Apart from opposition Congress and BJP, NCP which issupporting the Naveen Patnaik government is all set to cornerthe ruling BJD over alleged irregularities in purchase ofpulses for mid-day meal scheme and supplementary nutritionprogramme meant for children and pregnant women.

"Corruption is rampant during the BJD rule. Aftermining and coal scandals, now pulses scam has rocked thestate," Congress Chief Whip in the assembly Prasad Harichandantold reporters here.

Unlike other corruption issues, the ''dal scam'' hasdirectly affected common people for which the BJD governmentis responsible, he said, alleging that about one crorechildren and women were made to consume contaminated,sub-standard and adulterated ''dal'' and thus exposed to healthhazards.

Congress would raise the ''dal scandal'' issue bothinside the assembly and outside, another senior leader said.

Expressing similar views, BJP Legislature Party leaderK V Singhdeo said his party would raise the ''dal scam'' duringthe budget session along with all other issues of corruptionincluding mining, coal and land scandals.

"However, our intention is not to stall business inthe assembly. We want debate and discussion on major issuesconfronting the people," he said.

BJP is also likely to corner the government overalleged fake encounter in Bargarh district in which a localparty worker was killed recently by securitymen, senior partyleader Jainarayan Mishra said. .