Odisha Govt Encouraging Private Finance Companies To Exploit Poor Lonees Who Are Forced To Commit Suicide: BJP

Bhubaneswar: Alleging that five persons have died by suicide in a week in Odisha due to harassment by private finance companies, BJP on Wednesday accused the BJD government in the state of encouraging these firms to exploit and harass common people.

Addressing a press meet in Bhubaneswar, state BJP general secretary Lekhashree Samantsinghar a couple in Kanas area of Puri district allegedly committed suicide after being harassed by the employees of a finance company for repayment of loan.

Coming down heavily on the state government over the issue, she claimed that at least five persons have committed suicide in the state after being harassed by private finance companies over repayment of loans.

While the guidelines laid down by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on the functioning of finance companies are being violated in Odisha, the state government is yet to frame any guideline in this regard, the BJP leader said, adding that no one should repay loans taken from private finance companies before the clear guidelines are laid down by the state government.

The private finance companies are are functioning in an arbitrary manner as the state government is yet to put in place a proper regulatory mechanism, she said.

Claiming that the private finance companies are playing the same game plan adopted by the chit fund firms, Samantsinghar said they are exploiting and cheating the common people due to a nexus with the government.

The BJP leader said that the state government should provide Rs 20 lakh assistance each to the families of those who ended their lives due to harassment by finance companies.