THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Ranchi, March 5: A political storm is brewing in Jharkhand as BJP State President and former Chief Minister Babulal Marandi accused the Assembly Speaker, Rabindranath Mahto, of favouring the ruling party and suppressing opposition voices.
Adding fuel to the fire, he also dismissed JMM’s mineral blockade threat as a mere “drama” to cover up illegal coal smuggling. With tensions escalating inside the House and BJP MLAs staging a walkout, the battle between the ruling coalition and the opposition is heating up.
Speaking to the media outside the House, Marandi said that opposition members are repeatedly interrupted when they try to speak.
He pointed out that a similar incident occurred today when BJP MLA Neera Yadav was addressing the House. According to him, ruling party MLAs continuously interrupted her speech.
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“Unfortunately, she did not receive protection from the Chair,” he said. When Neera Yadav requested additional time to compensate for the interruptions, the Speaker denied her request. Marandi called this decision “completely arbitrary” and accused the ruling party of conspiring to suppress the opposition.
In protest, BJP MLAs walked out of the House.
‘JMM’s Blockade is a Cover for Illegal Coal Smuggling’
Commenting on the JMM’s announcement of a mineral blockade, Marandi criticized the move, calling it a long-standing habit of the party.
“This is just a drama to facilitate illegal coal transportation,” he alleged.
According to Marandi, 400 to 500 trucks of coal are being illegally transported from Dhanbad and Bokaro every day, with full protection from the police at the behest of the state government.
Regarding the state’s dues from the Central Government, he claimed that despite repeated requests for a detailed breakdown, the JMM has failed to provide clear information.
He further criticized the JMM for its alliance with the Congress, calling it a “gift from the Congress party.”
Marandi also blamed the Congress for the unresolved issues of displaced people in Jharkhand, particularly those affected by CCL, BCCL, and HEC. He argued that despite ruling for 60 years, the Congress never attempted to address these concerns.
“Today, the Modi government is ready to solve the state’s problems, but Congress and JMM are only interested in looting Jharkhand, not in finding solutions,” he concluded.
