From the States: Jharkhand

BJP gaining newer pastures:
Rajnath Singh
From Our Correspondent

Shri Rajnath Singh went to Jharkhand for the first time after he took over as the BJP National President this year. He was given a warm welcome when he reached the State. He also addressed a meeting of party functionaries separately and gave a clear message to them to unite on one platform. Delivering his speech in the valedictory session, Shri Rajnath Singh advised the Party office bearers to be in constant touch with Karyakartas and the people. He showered praise on the Munda Government for carrying out development work in the State at a great pace. Shri Rajnath Singh also addressed a press conference in Deoghar.

Bharatiya Janata Party National President Shri Rajnath Singh said that the party is riding high on people’s support, particularly after winning Assembly elections in two States which were held after the UPA came into power at the Centre. Shri Singh was addressing a mammoth rally organised during the two-day meet of State BJP Executive in Deoghar.

Underlining the ideological differences among UPA constituents he said the fall of this coalition was imminent as it had been a total failure on many fronts, notably the internal security of the country.

Launching a scathing attack on Congress-led UPA Government he said it had put the country’s sovereignty and prestige at stake. Blaming the Congress President for acting hand in glove with Ottavio Quattrocchi, Shri Singh said that it was at her behest that his London bank accounts were de-frozen. He demanded that Congress deposit the Rs. 25 crore of public money in government coffers which was paid to Quattrocchi for acting as a middleman in the Bofors gun deal.

Raising the issue of tainted ministers, Shri Rajnath Singh blamed the Manmohan Singh Government for having ministers with criminal records and said that the Prime Minister had been left with no moral right to continue in power. Taking UPA to task Shri Singh said it could not protect the country from the sharp spurt in Naxal activities and the thriving terrorism.

Explaining the significance of holding this meeting in Deoghar, Shri Rajnath Singh said he was motivated by Lord Rama’s victory over Ravana . “I came here to seek the blessings of vanvasis (people living in forests) and girivasis (people living in hilly region) to uproot the corrupt Congress rule at the Centre,” he said.

Coming down heavily on the Congress apathy towards farmers he accused it for delaying the implementation of Krishi Aay Beema Yojana , a scheme launched for farmers’ welfare during the NDA regime. Shri Singh held the anti-farmer policies of Congress responsible for increasing numbers of farmers committing suicide.

Shri Rajnath Singh blasted the UPA Government for neglecting the development projects initiated by the NDA Government . Citing the example of Japan, which faced a nuclear attack at the time when India became independent, Shri Singh said that India’s development was hindered because of the policies of Nehru and the Congress. They copied the model for development from Russia which did not suit the ground realties in India.

Addressing the rally, Jharkhand Chief Minister Shri Arjun Munda announced many schemes promising employment to unemployed youth in the State. He said the State Government would shortly advertise vacancies for 2,000 sub-inspectors and 1,500 assistant sub-inspectors and many more posts for constables in the Police department. He also promised to set up medical and engineering colleges in Santhal Pargana.

BJP Vice-President and former Chief Minister Shri Babulal Marandi praised the Munda Government and launched a blistering attack on the Congress-led UPA coalition for the rise in Naxal activities in Jharkhand.

Other prominent leaders who addressed the rally were State BJP President Shri Yadunath Pandey, Shri Raghuvar Das, Shri Pradip Yadav and Shri Raj Maliwar.