BJP State President and former Chief Minister Babulal Marandi today paid homage to India's first Home Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his birth anniversary at the state office. Marandi said that Sardar Saheb was a strong supporter of India's national unity and cultural nationalism.
He said that after India got independence from the British, Sardar Saheb played an important role in making more than 500 princely states into one India. Marandi said that Sardar Patel wanted to keep the cultural identity of Mother India intact.
He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is continuously working towards making the India of Sardar Patel's dreams a better India. BJP regional organization general secretary Nagendra Tripathi while paying his respects, said that as great was the personality of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, his work was equally great. He was not only a skilled politician but also a skilled administrator.
He said that Sardar Saheb strengthened national unity and also developed the Indian administrative system. Those who paid tribute included State General Secretary Balmukund Sahay, State Minister Kajal Pradhan Pratul Shahdev, Rajiv Ranjan Mishra, Ashok Badaik, Tariq Imran etc.
Meanwhile in other development, BJP state spokesperson Pratul Shahdev, while addressing a press conference at the state headquarters today, demanded from the state government to name the bridge built on Mayurakshi river after Baba Tilka Manjhi, one of the first warriors of the freedom struggle.
Pratul said that doing this will be a matter of pride not only for the entire Santhal Pargana, Jharkhand but also for the country. Pratul said that Baba Tilka Manjhi had raised the flag of independence in 1784 itself and started Ulgulan by killing the then British Commissioner Augustus Cleveland with a slingshot and arrows. Baba Tilka Manjhi and his followers escaped from the forest for several weeks. Later, he was fraudulently caught and hanged. Pratul said that doing so would be a small tribute to the martyrdom of Baba Tilka Manjhi.
Pratul wanted to know from the Chief Minister that for how long will he keep trying to forcefully take credit by inaugurating the scheme started during the BJP government? Pratul said that the Chief Minister should name even one scheme which was started during the tenure of his government and which he also inaugurated.
Pratul said that the tender for the bridge built on Mayurakshi river was held on September 1, 2017 and after allotment of the work, the contractor had started the work on February 12, 2018. Apart from this, the tender for the road near the pool was also issued and allotted in October, 2019.
Pratul said that the focus of this government has not been on development. It is only engaged in plunder and embezzlement. Otherwise, four years is enough time for any government to start its scheme and inaugurate it.