Oppn BJP absent at Speaker’s meet
The week-long monsoon session of Jharkhand assembly that begins Friday is likely to remain stormy, as the Opposition is preparing to corner the Hemant Soren-led goverment over a host of issues.
While Speaker Rabindra Nath Mahto chaired an all-party meeting Thursday, which was skipped by the opposition BJP, both Congress and the BJP organised their legislature party meetings ahead of the session late evening. The Congress meeting was attended by party’s state in-charge RPN Singh, while BJP national general secretary and in-charge of state unit Dilip Saikia attended the legislature party meeting of the saffron party.
Later, chief minister (CM) Hemant Soren chaired a meeting of the legislature party of the ruling alliance--JMM, Congress and RJD--at his official residence.
Speaking to media persons after the meeting at the Assembly, the CM said the government was prepared for the session. “I do not know as to why the BJP did not attend the meeting. We are ready and will put forth our plans with all sensitivity,” he said.
However, the opposition is preparing to corner the government over a host of issues. “This government has failed on almost all fronts. Our MLAs would strongly raise issues related to people in the House,” said state BJP president Deepak Prakash.
Party sources said some of the issues include new employment policy, delay in recruitment exams and law and order.
“The high court’s recent direction for CBI probe into the Rupa Tirkey death case two days before the session has given the party a big issue to corner the government,” said a BJP MLA.
Sudesh Mahto, president of AJSU Party, an ally of BJP, said the House should also take up the issue of caste census. “Almost all parties agreed on it. The House would take up this issue, pass a resolution and send it to the Centre,” he added.
State Congress president Rajesh Thakur said all legislators are free to raise issues of concern.
“MLAs represent an area, and people have expectations from them. Be it the opposition or the ruling party, they ought to raise issues related to people, especially from their constituency,” Thakur said.
Meanwhile, sources said the government is likely to table critical bills, including the Municipal Act amendment bill and medical protection bill, during the upcoming session which were passed by the Cabinet recently for ratification of the House.