AJSU party on Friday kicked off month-long campaign to fight for special status for Jharkhand, taking the political battle to the Centre led by the Congress.
To begin with, Sudesh Mahto’s party, which has six MlAs in the Assembly, observed a day-long fast on Friday at all district headquarters across the State in support of their demand to get special status for the State.
Addressing a public meeting at Morhabadi, AJSU chief Sudesh accused the Congress of hatching a conspiracy against the State and vowed to get special status at any cost for Jharkhand. He claimed that despite fulfilling all the criteria for getting the special status, the Central Government is not ready to give it to Jharkhand out of political compulsions, though they are considering to give the same to Bihar.
“Justice must be done with the State and we will fight for special status of Jharkhand,” said Mahto. “We will observe ‘Adhikaar Yatra’ at the block level all over the State and will start from Ulihatu to Bhognadih in Khunti on September 13,” he added.
“Half-fought battle for the State must be concluded,” Sudesh asserted.
“On October 2, protest will be registered by making human chains all across the State while AJSU party will sit on ‘dharna’ in Delhi to register their protest before the Central Government to push their demands,” he said.
He alleged that despite having the maximum natural resources among the states in the country, a very high percentage of its population is under poverty line. "Those providing kuccha loha (iron ore) still do not have pucca makan (cemented house)," he claimed.
He also alleged that despite providing highest revenue to the country, the State has not been able to establish its identity at the Centre. The Central Government does not even pay attention to the proposals passed by the Jharkhand Assembly, he added.
"The Centre did not even take notice of the proposals passed by the Assembly to shift the headquarters of Damodar Valley Corporation and Coal India limited to Jharkhand from Kolkata. Proposal to increase the Assembly seats was also not entertained by Parliament," said Sudesh.
He also maintained that his party is gearing up to fight for the prestige of the people of the State which could not be fulfilled until Jharkhand is given special status.
"Abundance of minerals is available in Jharkhand but we do not have the right to use it for our development. We have the right only to give a proposal or give no objection certificate for others. Coal belongs to the state…. but coal blocks have been allotted to Punjab for their use," he added.
Hatia MlA Navin Jaiswal during his address said that if special status is not given to the State, they will have to snatch it from the centre. He also alleged the Centre of conspiring against Jharkhand and questioned the proposal to give special status to Bihar.