Congress activists demonstrate at Jajpur. Telegraph picture

Jajpur, Jan. 28: Women and child development minister Pramila Mallick today felt the heat of corruption charge relating to the dal scam in her home district Jajpur.

Hundreds of Congress activists from across the district gathered at the district headquarter town to lodge their protest and demand resignation of the minister.

Led by former minister Sarat Rout, former legislator Niranjan Jena and, district Congress committee president Srinath Mishra, the Congress activists staged a demonstration in front of the district collector's office here today.

Earlier, they took out a rally holding placards and shouting slogans against Mallick and chief minister Naveen Patnaik. The protestors also demanded Naveen’s resignation.

“The minister’s complicity in the dal scam is crystal clear. So the chief minister should immediately sack her or she should tender her resignation owning responsibility for the scam involving crores of rupees,” said district Congress president Srinath Mishra.

Former minister Sarat Rout said: “The dal scam, which directly affects the life of young boys and girls in schools, is deplorable.” The agitators also threatened to intensify their protest if Mallick did not resign or was not sacked from the cabinet.

“We will not rest till the minister resigns,” said Babita Malik, Mahila Congress leader of the district.