Threat of falling short from the desired result is looming large over the first of its kind exercise in Jharkhand. As just three days are left for the March 23 meeting, coined to take parliamentarians from Jharkhand on board on developmental issues since the State is under President’s Rule, not a single MP has been officially sent invitation. Uncertain about venue and timing of the meeting several members are still to make up their mind to come down to Ranchi whereas some are clear about giving it a slip.
“I have no information about the said meeting till date and only knowledge I have is through news paper reports. I have no idea about venue and timing thus far,” said Giridih MP Ravindra Kumar Pandey.
Similar was the opinion of Rajya Sabha MP KD Singh. “My office has not received any official communication from any side. How come we make any strategy or form an opinion about the meeting. I am not sure whether to attend the meeting or not,” said the TMC leader.
Decision to hold such a consultation among the MPs hailing from the State had reached on last Friday. Replying to the objections raised in the lok Sabha by MPs representing Jharkhand Finance Minister P Chidambaram agreed to give way the mechanism a chance. The Union Minister had said that to incorporate the suggestions coming from the MPs a meeting would take place in the presence of the Governor and Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh in Ranchi.
Chatra MP, Inder Singh Namdhari though could not be contacted over phone as he was busy with the legislative work in the lower house, one of his close aides said that the MP has not been intimated about the proposed meeting by the State Government. “We are expecting an official letter from the State government about the meeting since this was confirmed by the Finance Minister himself in Parliament. If we don’t get an official intimation how would one expect the MP to reach Ranchi on his own and participate in the meeting informally,” he said.
However following the decision the Chief Secretary’s office has issued letter to Home and Planning and Development Departments and marked it to Cabinet Coordination Department for arranging the meet. The first two Departments have been told to finalise agenda of the consultation, expected to take place in Governor’s House at 3 pm.
“We have got the letter from the Chief Secretary but no communication has taken place from the Centre. The Parliament is in session till March 22 and we are expecting to get the letter before that. The letters to MPs would be sent after getting the orders,” a senior official of Cabinet Coordination department told The Pioneer.
leave the notice issue apart, some MPs set to give the meeting a miss citing prior engagements. “Jharkhand Budget would come for discussion on March 22 in the Rajya Sabha and I will be speaking on that. It is more important for me as I am the lone MP in the House from my party. If extended debate happens on the day I am not sure whether I would be able to catch the meeting,” said JMM’s Sanjeev Kumar.
BJP member and Deputy Speaker in the lok Sabha Karia Munda and Sudarshan Bhagat have plans to tour abroad at that time. “The MP has a prescheduled visit to the US as he will be a part of the Parliamentary delegation visiting the country. He will leave on March 22 evening itself,” said a close aide of Bhagat.
Moreover counting his agendas, if invited, Ravindra Pandey said that he would raise issues of burnt transformers under the rural electrification scheme, irregularities in PMGSY and inclusion of Dhanbad district for BRGF in the meeting.