BJP gears up to oppose PM's visit

Vijay Deo Jha Ranchi Monday, April 21, 2008

The State BJP will oppose Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit. They have decided to protest the visit on two issues: Central Mining Policy and the unbridled price rise. Leader to Opposition and senior BJP leader Arjun Munda announced the opposition of the PM's visit.The PM is scheduled to visit Jharkhand on April 22 and will visit Bokaro and Jamshedpur in connection to Tata Steel's centenary programme. The BJP high command has asked the State top leaders to protest against the PM's visit at all the three places. The party would chalk out its strategy on April 21.While highlighting the negative aspects of the Mining Policy, Munda said that the Central Government did not consider the genuine demand and suggestions of the Chief Ministers of the States of Jharkhand, MP, Chhattisgarh and Orrisa. The economic and social concerns of these states were pooh-poohed during the formulation of the policy. If the policy were implemented, Jharkhand would not only lose its due share but may turn into a poaching ground of the private companies, he said.At a time when the Government should have pondered over the Mines and Mineral (Development and Regulation Act) 1957, to suit the federal structure of the country, the Prime Minister was doing reverse, he said.He further said the PM was guided by a distinct and alien vision, which was anti federal as well as anti-Jharkhand. He wanted to know the reason that stopped the Union Government from implementing Ad Valorem in mining policy as well as in the State despite recommendations made in this regard by the Planning Commission of India.Munda cornered the Prime Minister on his failure to arrest price hike and feared that the State might turn into another Vidharbha. While lampooning the PM for his Manmohnic-omics, he said the price index of the last one-month was a sufficient reminder of the fact that the UPA Government failed to provide an effective administration.