The ruling JMM, Congress Government in State had to face a few awkward moments in the Legislative Assembly at the last day of winter session, as JMM and Congress legislators, raised issues of public interest to bring into the notice of the government. While senior JMM legislator Lobin Hembrom expressed his concern over the plan of the state government to sell liquor, Sita Soren daughter-in-law of JMM patriarch and senior lawmaker sat on dharna against land acquisition of forest land in CCL’s Amrapali project.
Hembrom, the MLA from Boriyo in Santhal Pargana, expressing his concern tried to draw the attention of the house when he raised the issue saying that the government is contemplating selling liquor based on Chhattisgarh model.
“Shibu Soren has always spoken in favour of prohibition during his struggle for a separate Jharkhand State. Now his son, who is the chief minister of the State, thinks about selling liquor. This is very shameful. This is a matter of great concern for me. I am a follower of Shibu Soren and will not tolerate this if this happens,” said Hembrom.
Hembrom brought the matter in the notice of the House after the question hour, which ran smoothly today, unlike other days when it remained disturbed on the issue of JPSC examination bungling. Sources said that the Jharkhand government is studying the policies of different states to increase the sale of liquor in the State. In this connection, officers of Jharkhand's Excise Department recently visited Raipur to study the policies of Chhattisgarh government. Earlier, as the House commenced on Wednesday the last day of winter session, JMM legislator from Jama, Sita Soren sat on dharna outside the house protesting against her own government. Soren said, “The government is not giving a satisfactory reply to the question raised by me.” She further said she had raised the issue of protection of Jal Jungle Zameen . At CCL’s Amrapali project forest land is acquired by Coal companies against the CNT/SPT Act. Quarry of coal is done in an illegal way by Coal companies, we are against these illegal activities.”
Also, legislators cutting across political agendas today raised the matter related to their constituency and several times cornered the government for its misleading, incomplete or vague information.
Poraiyahat legislator Pradeep Yadav cornered the government for its wasteful expenditure on different projects, including Harmu rejuvenation project, Urban Haat, slaughterhouse, Time square, sewage drainage project among others.
Congress MLA from Mahgama of Jharkhand Deepika Pandey Singh alleged that some bureaucrats are not giving attention to people's representatives. Singh alleged that the secretary of the drinking water supply department does not respect the woman MLA. He neither stands up when she goes to his chamber nor does he call back to her phone call. Deepika Pandey Singh complained about this to the speaker. She said that if the principal secretary of other departments is unable to pick up the phone, then they call back or give the reason for not picking up the phone, but the PHED department secretary neither picks up the phone nor do they call back later.