The Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (JVM) on Tuesday extended hands towards the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) to create a united Opposition against the NDA Government before the onset of Budget Session. In a closed door meeting between JVM leader Pradeep Yadav, JMM patriarch Shibu Soren and former Chief Miniser Hemant Soren, the two parties have decided to hold a meeting on February 5 at Ranchi and bring remaining forces in Opposition in Jharkhand Assembly on board to corner Government on a number of issues.
“We are in a strong position and we are keeping a close eye on the activities of the Government. We want to give a befitting reply to this Government and for that on February 5, all leaders of Opposition parties will be meeting to decide jointly how to corner this Government,” said former Chief Minister Hemant Soren.
The JMM-JVM has decided to pressurise the State Government on land acquisition Bill and keep recruitment on hold until domicile policy is framed. Both the parties are opposing teacher recruitment process and also the land acquisition bill in its present format. “We want this Government to reject the provisions of land Acquisition Bill in the context of Jharkhand and also stop recruitments in grade-3,4 jobs in districts unless domicile policy is framed,” said JMM Spokesperson, Supriyo Bhattacharya.
The JMM however called the meeting as a courtesy call by JVM leader Pradeep Yadav and magnanimity on the part of the party in the evolving polity of the State. The JMM leaders had tagged the JVM as the “BJP’s B-Team” on quite a number of occasions. “Circumstances change in politics. Since our responsibility has increased as we the leader of Opposition and for the very reason we have to be magnanimous in our approach towards other parties,” maintained Bhattacharya.
The BJP rejected the stand of JMM-JVM on land acquisition bill and projected the provisions as addressing concerns of availability of land especially in the context of Jharkhand and the amendments introduced by the BJP-led central Government as expediting the transfer of land from the owner to the end user. The Central Government had made introduced amendments to the bill which the Congress had touted as farmer friendly contrary to the draconian process of acquisition by Government.
“The amendments are based on the exigencies of the situation and have been introduced keeping in view the requirements of Jharkhand as well. The provisions as introduced by UPA (United Progressive Alliance) Government would have slowed the acquisition quite considerably. If they are opposing this Bill then I would say that they are disregarding people’s mandate,” said BJP Spokesperson, Pradeep Sinha.