PM Narendra Modi likely to raise pitch on chit fund scam at meet on Saturday

BHUBANESWAR: Less than a fortnight ago on December 24, a key part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speech at a public meeting in Khurda was his reference to the chit fund scam in the state. When Modi will address a public meeting at Baripada on Saturday, it is widely anticipated the PM may raise the pitch further on the issue because the local MP Ramchandra Hansdah of the BJD spent nearly four years in jail for his alleged complicity in the Nava Diganata chit fund scam.
“Who sheltered the demon of corruption such as the chit fund scam and the PC culture (reference to the rampant system of government functionaries charging a percentage of commission),” the PM had questioned. Hansdah, the Mayurbhanj MP, was arrested by CBI in November 2014 and was granted bail by the Supreme Court in July last year. Baripada is the district headquarters of tribal-dominated Mayurbhanj district bordering Jharkhand.

The PM had, while enlisting the state government’s failures and questioning its performance, refrained from naming either chief minister Naveen Patnaik or BJD, a former NDA ally. The same was interpreted as Modi being soft towards the regional satrap, especially after BJP’s poll drubbings in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan. State BJP insiders, as well as political rivals, will keenly watch whether he would refrain from making personal attacks on Naveen this time too, or go all out against the four-time CM just like he did in Jharsuguda in September last year when he had said “Naveen babu had to be frequently woken up from slumber” by the Centre.

State BJP leaders said the PM and the party have a consistent stand on Odisha, which is change of governance and a emergence of a new India with a prosperous east. “There is no change in the PM’s approach. Whether it’s Jharsuguda or Khurda, he has questioned the failures of the incumbent government here and sought for change. I am sure he will again enthuse the cadres and people with the same message,” state BJP president Basanta Panda said.

Panda added that the PM may touch upon the multi-crore chit fund scam accused sheltered by the BJD leaders which rendered thousands of families poorer. Besides, there are many more failures of the Naveen government to be highlighted, he said.

After addressing public meetings in the northeastern states of Manipur and Assam on Friday, the PM will address rallies in Odisha besides neighbouring Jharkhand on Saturday and inaugurate a series of development projects in both the states. The PM is slated to visit Odisha again and address a public meeting at Balagir on January 15.