Kolkata: The West Bengal Assembly today
passed the new bill to control chit funds-'The West Bengal Protection of
Interest of Depositors' in Financial Establishment Bill, 2013'- by
voice vote after marathon discussion of three hours with the Opposition
Congress and the Left Front demanding a CBI inquiry into the scam.
Before introduction of the new bill, the previous bill, passed by the state Assembly in 2009, was withdrawn.
Both the Opposition Congress and the Left Front members, though maintained that the new bill was 'necessary' to control chit funds, walked out of the House protesting non-acceptance of their respective amendments to the bill by Finance Minister Amit Mitra.
They observed that the retrospective effect, as given in the bill, was 'unconstitutional' and demanded a CBI probe into the fraud.
They also questioned the reason behind withdrawal of the previous bill.
In her thanks-giving address, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said the bill, after enacting as a new law, would help the government to curb such crimes and bring the culprits to book.
Ms Banerjee also expressed her 'gratitude' to President Pranab Mukherjee for returning the previous bill passed by the state Assembly in 2009.
She said the Centre has given a list of 73 such chit funds operating in the state.
" These companies are depriving people of their legitimate returns. We will take steps to close all such chit funds within 24 hours," the Chief Minister announced.
The bill was introduced in the House in the second and the last day of the two-day emergency session.
Senior Congress leader and former minister Manas Bhuniya said, "The retrospective effect given in the bill is unconstitutional. Its fate is uncertain if it is challenged in court." Opposition leader in the Assembly and senior CPI(M) leader Surjya Kanta Mishra maintained, "We want such a bill with amendments. But our amendments were not accepted. Only a CBI probe can unravel the truth."
The two-day special session of the West Bengal Assembly that ended this evening was the first such session of the state Assembly since 1960 when an emergency session had been convened under the Chief Ministership of Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy to tackle the Assam refugee issue.
Both the Opposition Congress and the Left Front members, though maintained that the new bill was 'necessary' to control chit funds, walked out of the House protesting non-acceptance of their respective amendments to the bill by Finance Minister Amit Mitra.
They observed that the retrospective effect, as given in the bill, was 'unconstitutional' and demanded a CBI probe into the fraud.
They also questioned the reason behind withdrawal of the previous bill.
In her thanks-giving address, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said the bill, after enacting as a new law, would help the government to curb such crimes and bring the culprits to book.
Ms Banerjee also expressed her 'gratitude' to President Pranab Mukherjee for returning the previous bill passed by the state Assembly in 2009.
She said the Centre has given a list of 73 such chit funds operating in the state.
" These companies are depriving people of their legitimate returns. We will take steps to close all such chit funds within 24 hours," the Chief Minister announced.
The bill was introduced in the House in the second and the last day of the two-day emergency session.
Senior Congress leader and former minister Manas Bhuniya said, "The retrospective effect given in the bill is unconstitutional. Its fate is uncertain if it is challenged in court." Opposition leader in the Assembly and senior CPI(M) leader Surjya Kanta Mishra maintained, "We want such a bill with amendments. But our amendments were not accepted. Only a CBI probe can unravel the truth."
The two-day special session of the West Bengal Assembly that ended this evening was the first such session of the state Assembly since 1960 when an emergency session had been convened under the Chief Ministership of Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy to tackle the Assam refugee issue.
--UNI
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