Coalition partners in the State Government of Jharkhand- Indian National Congress (INC) and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) on Wednesday reacted sharply and termed Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) called one day fast as complete political drama.
Jharkhand Pradesh Congress Committee Spokespersons Lal Kishorenath Shahdeo and Alok Kumar Dubey jointly issued a press statement and said that in the entire Country, it Jharkhand is probably the only State where BJP leaders are protesting and fasting against the decisions and policies of its own Central Government. They said that there is no consultation with the State Governments before implementing the nationwide lockdown and the Central Government is solely responsible for the nationwide chaos. Both the leaders said that it is the responsibility of the Central Government to bring back the trapped children and labourers in other States.
Shahdeo and Dubey advised the BJP leaders sitting on one-day fast that they should demand to the Central Government to immediately provide the special assistance sought by the State Government to deal with the crisis arising out due to Covid-19. “The State Government demanded 70,000 PPE kits for Corona test, while the Chief Minister discussed through video conferencing with the Prime Minister to pay the outstanding dues of GST. The State BJP leaders should also urge the Prime Minister to fulfill the demands made by the State Government to deal with the crisis soon," they added.
The State Congress spokespersons said that the State Government has also sought cooperation in bringing back the stranded students and migrant labourers from outside the State, for this special trains and passengers buses have also been requested from the Central Government. They said that it seems that the BJP leaders are busy in fasting at their residence to ridicule the migrant workers, students and others trapped outside.
Meanwhile, JMM General Secretary and Spokesperson, Supriyo Bhattacharya said that the State BJP leaders held fast after getting their food properly and termed it as a political drama.
The BJP leaders are trying to divide the society on the basis of religion, which is highly shameful act, he added.
Bhattacharya said that Chief Minister, Hemant Soren, is following each of the guidelines, protocols and decisions of the Central Government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “Messages given by the PM during the lock-down, 'Stay home wherever you are', the State Government also followed the same policy.
The leaders of JMM or its coalition party have acted to honour the Prime Minister's call. But three BJP MPs from the Jharkhand defied the call of their party's supreme leader and reached respectively Ranchi, Jamshedpur and Dhanbad from Delhi during ongoing lockdown.
In an another case BJP MP from Godda, Nishikant Dubey violated the instructions of the World Health Organization, including the Government of India, highlighted the name of the Corona positive patient and his identity," he added.
The party Spokesperson demanded that Home Minister, Amit Shah, should take immediate cognizance in these cases and ensure immediate arrest of these MPs under the legal provision of allegations of violation of the Disaster Management Act issued at the time of epidemic and violation of the conditions of lockdown.