The Opposition is all set to show a united face against the ruling BJP on Saturday in a two-day ‘economic blockade’ to protest the State Government’s domicile policy declared by Chief Minister Raghubar Das recently.
The call for two-day ‘economic blockade’ made by the JVM has been actively supported by the JMM, the Congress and the left parties.
They have alleged that the ruling BJP was suppressing the voice of the tribal and Moolvasi people and snatching the rights of the poorest. The workers of Opposition parties are expected to block the main roads, railway tracks and major mines to register their protests against the domicile policy.
The State Government, on the other hand, has also exhibited its preparedness against bandh by exercising mock drills at a number of locations and made it clear that it will not remain a mute spectator if law and order situation is teased by anyone anywhere during these two days.
While JVM chief and former Chief Minister Babulal Marandi on Friday thanked the entire Opposition for offering support for making economic blockade a huge success, he also accused the Government of sending threatening messages on mobile phones to more than 35,000 party workers warning them to stay away from bandh.
Marandi claimed that actions from the government like these even before bandh officially started, were clear indicator that government machinery was already functioning with a preconceived notion of success of the bandh, which is a great success of the party.
However, a highly-placed source in State police headquarters ridiculed the claims of the JVM of sending threatening messages to its workers and called it a propaganda tactics and frustration of the party seeing a definite failure ahead. He though admitted that sending messages to already zeroed trouble-mongers was a part of modus operandi of police department before any pre-declared agitation or bandh.
He said that the threshold of peaceful agitation would be acceptable, but beyond that nothing would be entertained and cognisable offenders will be booked accordingly.
The Government had used stern measures against the May 14 shutdown by the JMM against the domicile policy.
Ranchi Deputy Commissioner (DC) Manoj Kumar directed officials to co-ordinate with other agencies and department on time at priority basis, so that a rapid action could be ensured at important points if and when needed.
He also directed officials to stay alert at National Highways connecting lohardaga, Gumla and Khelari to Ranchi and other places important in terms of commercial transportation, where there is a strong possibility of agitators going rampant. He also directed officials to ensure students appearing in exams on June 12 (Sunday) a safe and timely passage to their centres.
Meanwhile, Federation of Jharkhand Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FJCCI) has also extended its ‘moral’ support to the bandh citing some ‘obvious’ reasons.
President of FJCCI Pawan Kumar Sharma said that this bandh was easily avoidable, if CM had called a meeting with opposition immediately after the bandh was decided.
“However, markets across Ranchi and many other parts of the state already remain closed on Sundays, and banks are going to remain closed on second Saturday of the month which eventually falls on the first day of the bandh today. So, I believe common people will have no problem during these two days of bandh”, he said.