The day-long ‘Jharkhand Bandh’ called by the three regional parties in the State -AJSU, Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (JVM) and Janata Dal (United) remained peaceful yet, according to the protesting leaders, was quite successful as people chose to stay in their homes in support of parties’ demand of special status for the State. Several protesters, including former Chief Minister Babulal Marandi and former Deputy Chief Minister Sudesh Mahto, were arrested while taking out protest march in Ranchi.
The ruling alliance, however, called the Opposition’s demand of special status a political stunt as they have no agenda for the coming lS elections.
“We are grateful to the support the people of Jharkhand have shown today and chose to remain inside their homes in support of our demand of special status. We will not sit silently till the special status is granted to us,” said AJSU chief Sudesh Mahto.
Mahto said he will take the issue from streets to Parliament and is determined to lead till it ends. “We are not seeking alms from the Centre but demanding our rights from it,” added Mahto. “If Seemandhra can get the status the day it was formed, why Jharkhand, despite fulfilling all criteria, cannot get the status of special status,” he questioned.
Meanwhile, Babulal Marandi was arrested from Albert Ekka Chowk while Sudesh Mahto from Sainik Market in Main Road along with hundreds of their supporters. They were taken to the camp jail at Jaipal Singh Stadium only to be released later in the evening.
Barring some small private vehicles and two-wheelers, the streets in Ranchi remained deserted till late afternoon while the heavy vehicles and long distance buses did not ply on the roads. Rail service on the other hand more or less remained unaffected. Shops and business establishments also remained closed on Sunday.
Babulal Marandi was also seen protesting on the roads with thousands of his supporters thanking people for their support and promised that he will not sit back till special status was granted to the State. “The issue of status for the State will be raised in the coming lS elections which will be taken to the level of villages as well. The support extended by the people will not go in vain; we will definitely get special status,” JVM chief Babulal Marandi.
JSCA president Amitabh Chaudhary, who recently joined the JVM, was also seen protesting for the special status along with the other party leaders and workers.
Though, the bandh was claimed of getting all support from people in the State, the protesters came out on the roads in separate groups shouting slogans in demand of special status and tyres were burnt at several spots like Kuchery road, Albert Ekka Chowk, Ratu Road and Radium Road, blocking the way for commuters.
The ruling alliance on the other hand has called it a political stunt. “Demand for special status is not more than a political stunt by the opposition and has been called in the dearth of having any agenda for the forthcoming lok Sabha elections,” said State Congress President Sukhdeo Bhagat.
Condemning the ransacking which took place in some parts of the state like Jamshedpur and other places in the state Bhagat said that the parties which were in power for most of the time since the state came into being never thought of its development are now, raising the issue of special status for the sake of taking political advantage in the forthcoming lok Sabha elections.
In order to avoid any untoward incident, 40 magistrates and over 500 police personnel were deputed by the district administration. Several arrests were made to maintain law and order in the city. “A total of 396 protesters were arrested during the bandh in Ranchi, who were later released in the evening,” said SP City Anoop Birthare.