Repeating himself once again, Minister Chandrashekhar Dubey on Thursday came out in open against his own Government headed by Hemant Soren on sand auctioning exercise taking place across the State. Dadai Dubey is quite popular with this name—has criticised the decision and threw an open challenge to the companies, mostly hailing from Mumbai and Kolkata, who have immerged successful bidders and clinched rights over the minor natural resources for trade in Jharkhand.
“I also have come to know about the incident. Bambai ki companiyan rangdari kar rahi hain (Companies from Mumbai are indulge in bullying activities). I also have information that some representatives of those who are in the Government are also involved into all this. I am going to oppose this decision and would not agree at any cost on this,” said Dubey, the Rural Development Minister to The Pioneer.
Auctioning on sand of all the riverbeds across the State has become a big issue with almost all Opposition parties coming together and speaking against the Government adopting the auctioning route. Some parties have even termed the decision against the judgment of the Supreme Court and also not in conformity of the PESA Act and the provisions of Panchayati Raj that promise rights over mineral minerals to the local elected bodies such as Gram Sabhas.
“I will raise the issue with the Chief Minister and also in the next Cabinet. I am not going to bow down to such practices and will not allow this to happen in Jharkhand. The companies should also not remain under wrong impression. They are not going to get any benefit out of this,” said the firebrand Minister who is also holding the Panchayati Raj portfolio.
The Congress MlA from Bishrampur also poured his heart out and expressed his dissatisfaction over the functioning on the Government formed in coalition with Congress, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, RJD and Independents. “I have great amount of anger (over the affairs) from inside. I sometime also feel sorry and have regrets,” said the Minister adding that he would raise the issue and others concerning the Government in the Friday meeting with Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh in Ranchi.
Dubey, who had on earlier occasions, opposed some of the decisions taken by Chief Minister Hemant Soren and questioned rationale behind separating REO from rural development department.
He has also criticised his Cabinet colleague Geetashree Oraon on Bhojpuri language controversy in teachers’
eligibility test.