JVM supremo Babulal Marandi could not have found a better moment than this to fish into what can be termed as troubled waters for the ruling BJP.
The former Chief Minister, who is still fighting the poaching of six of his party MlAs by the saffron party, fully backed Food and Civil Supplies Minister Saryu Roy and former Chief Minister Arjun Munda for openly locking horns with Chief Minister Raghubar Das on various ‘serious’ issues.
Addressing a Press conference on Thursday, Marandi, a former blue-eyed boy of the BJP, termed the two leaders courageous and congratulated them for raising the voice against their own Government.
“What Saryu Roy and Arjun Munda have said is a brave move and they deserve pat for that. I congratulate them for questioning the decision of the Government, be it on mining lease renewal or opposition to the amendments done in the SPT and CNT Acts. In fact, entire State is opposing the decision to amend the tenancy laws,” said Marandi.
He termed the decision to bring Bills to alter with the tenancy acts provisions as dictatorial in nature which was affecting majority of the residents in the State. “What Arjun Munda has said was in the hearts of the people of Jharkhand. He has played his role as a leader and now the Opposition would also deliver its duty in the days to come inside and outside the Assembly. At the same time, I also find merit in what Saryu Roy has said about the lease extension. The decision of the Cabinet to extend mining lease is illegitimate and money seems to have played a major role into this,” alleged the JVM chief.
Notably, Cabinet Minister Saryu Roy while opposing the decision of the Cabinet to extend mining lease of 105 firms has written to the Chief Minister requesting him for a roll back. In his letter, he has said that the firms were on the wrong side of the law when their leases had ended and also questioned the propriety of the Cabinet to decide an executive matter under the purview of the Mines and Geology Department. While former Chief Minister Arjun Munda during the just concluded BJP’s working committee meeting has questioned the purpose and rationale behind the land laws affecting tribals directly.
“I believe that the Government is indulging into gross wrongdoings. The questions raised by the leaders and also from the parties in the Opposition should be probed thoroughly. Our party demands from the Government to publish a White Paper on both the matters so that truth can come before public,” said Marandi flanked by party leader in the Assembly Pradeep Yadav.