Orissa minister resigns over Rs 700 crore pulses scam
BHUBANESWAR: Orissa women and child development minister Pramila Mallick on Saturday resigned from her post in the wake of allegation of Rs 700-crore scam in purchase of dal for mid-day meal [MMD] scheme and Supplementary Nutrition Programme (SNP).
Women and Child Development department is the nodal agency through which dal is being given to about 95 lakh beneficiaries including 50 lakh school children. I have tendered my resignation on my own on moral grounds in the interest of the Biju Janata Dal [BJD] and to keep the clean image of the government intact. It is a sacrifice for the party and government. I am not afraid of any probe," she said claiming that she was a victim of conspiracy.
Claiming that there was no pressure on her to resign, Mrs Mallick said she met the chief minister this morning and conveyed her desire to step down to prevent people from pointing fingers at the government "though state vigilance wing has given her a clean chit". "Subsequently I sent my resignation letter," she said.
Mrs Mallick, who had been a minister in the Naveen Patnaik cabinet since 2004, further said, I was waiting for the vigilance report. The vigilance gave its report yesterday. It has no mention about my involvement. I hope my resignation will put a stop to the Oppositions allegation, she added.
Soon after the ministers resignation, the chief minister ordered to file charges-sheets against former Deogarh collector Ambika Prasad Das and Mayurbhanj collector Pramod Meherda, based on the findings of a report by the vigilance department. He also ordered transfer of Balasore collector Manish Verma.
Women and Child Development department is the nodal agency through which dal is being given to about 95 lakh beneficiaries including 50 lakh school children. I have tendered my resignation on my own on moral grounds in the interest of the Biju Janata Dal [BJD] and to keep the clean image of the government intact. It is a sacrifice for the party and government. I am not afraid of any probe," she said claiming that she was a victim of conspiracy.
Claiming that there was no pressure on her to resign, Mrs Mallick said she met the chief minister this morning and conveyed her desire to step down to prevent people from pointing fingers at the government "though state vigilance wing has given her a clean chit". "Subsequently I sent my resignation letter," she said.
Mrs Mallick, who had been a minister in the Naveen Patnaik cabinet since 2004, further said, I was waiting for the vigilance report. The vigilance gave its report yesterday. It has no mention about my involvement. I hope my resignation will put a stop to the Oppositions allegation, she added.
Soon after the ministers resignation, the chief minister ordered to file charges-sheets against former Deogarh collector Ambika Prasad Das and Mayurbhanj collector Pramod Meherda, based on the findings of a report by the vigilance department. He also ordered transfer of Balasore collector Manish Verma.
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