Former Chief Minister and Opposition leader Arjun Munda on Monday said Jharkhand was a mere cog in the wheel of the Congress’ larger goal — to garner seats for the lok Sabha elections next year.
During an informal interaction with mediapersons at Ranchi Club, Munda said, “It has become clear now that the Government in Jharkhand has been formed putting the State’s interests at stake. Politicians are no more than pieces on a chessboard. The whole State has been put at stake by the Congress, hoping to
perpetuate misgovernance beyond the 2014 parliamentary polls,” he said. “local interests have largely been ignored and there is absolutely no interest of the Centre to develop the State. They (the UPA), rather wants to exploit mineral resources,” Munda said.
Taking a dig at the economic policies of the Centre, Munda said that instead of promoting export of raw materials in the present economic crisis, the Government should put a cap on import of finished goods to contain the current account deficit. “There is no harm in importing raw materials like coal. But export of raw materials will hit hard poor but mineral-rich States and promote unemployment,” he maintained.
The leader of the Opposition said the UPA was preparing to take the country’s economy to an even worst stage by exploiting poor States, though he expressed confidence that the nation would reject these plans. Refusing to comment on the performance of the Hemant Soren Government, the former Chief Minister said he wanted to give at least three months to it for showing a report card.