Holding Jharkhand Mukti Morcha responsible for the upcoming Rajya Sabha bypoll in the State, the BJP has appealed to Opposition parties to cooperate in creating a healthy political environment in the State by letting its candidate get elected unopposed this time. BJP State chief Ravindra Rai lauded party’s decision to field noted journalist of international fame MJ Akbar as Rajya Sabha candidate in Jharkhand here on Thursday.
“At least this time it was possible to set a healthy tradition but JMM, by fielding Haji Hussain Ansari as its candidate, is trying to make it controversial again,” said Rai. JMM’s move was an illustration of their immoral intentions as it has been a tradition in this country that if there was a clear cut majority in the Assembly, voting was generally not required as the candidate gets elected unopposed, he added.Furthermore, JMM was responsible for the bypoll as the party elected such a candidate last time who, after getting into the vicious circle of the law, finally had to run away from Jharkhand and took shelter in West Bengal to save himself.
Cornering JMM for playing the communal card by fielding a candidate of Muslim community, Rai said that even when they were sure of their defeat, they fielded a candidate to show solidarity towards the Muslim community.“When it is time to get defeated, they brought in a Jharkhandi Muslim...but when they were sure of their victory, they had brought in candidates like KD Singh and Premchand Gupta from outside,” questioned Rai. The BJP chief also appealed Haji Hussain Ansari not to become a pawn for others’ ulterior motives, creating an unhealthy political tradition in the state, and let its candidate MJ Akbar get elected unopposed.Rai praised party’s central leadership for fielding an intellectual personality of international repute for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections in the State. “It has been a tradition in the party that we select a capable personality for Rajya Sabha from anywhere in the country so that the dignity of the Parliament remains maintained. MJ Akbar has been chosen, keeping all those facts in mind,” he added.
Rai also targeted Jharkhand Vikas Morcha for extending its support to the JMM candidate Haji Hassan Ansari. “Since JVM is at its last stage of existence, it would have been better if it gets merged with the JMM to keep themselves alive in the State politics,” Rai added.Referring to the proposed Agricultural Research Institute near Barhi in Hazaribagh, BJP state president said it would be a historical moment for the people of this State on June 28 when Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone for the coveted institute in Hazaribagh.“As the decision to open an Agricultural Research Institute in Jharkhand was taken during the last budget session of Parliament, it is really commendable that the foundation is being laid on Sunday within two months of its announcement,” he said.