SUMAN K SHRIVASTAVA
Ranchi, Dec 14: For a change, the ruling Congress will be competing with the Opposition BJP in cornering the JMM-led government on issues that they think will consolidate their vote bank during the forthcoming Winter session of the State Assembly beginning on December 16.
According to sources, there are several issues that are common on the agenda of both parties. First and foremost will be the question of the reduction of value-added tax (VAT) on petrol and diesel after the Centre slashed the excise duty on these products.
According to sources, the Congress central leaders had asked Finance Minister Rameshwar Oraon after Congress-ruled states like Punjab, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh reduced the VAT on petroleum products. However, Oraon did not act readily to the party’s Delhi leaders’ suggestion keeping in view the financial situation in Jharkhand.
The other issues which will be on the agenda of both the parties will be discrimination on grounds of language in the state government jobs as well the creation of jobs. The Congress, according to sources, will also be vocal in demanding the implementation of 27 percent jobs for the other backward classes (OBCs).
Notably, former Union Minister and Congress in-charge for Jharkhand R.P.N Singh had earlier reiterated that the party is committed to providing 27 per cent reservation to Other Backward Classes in government jobs in the state.
Singh had also said that a meeting had been held with all other political parties of the state, including the JMM, BJP and Ajsu, to extend support to the issue.
A senior Congress leader said that the party MLAs will raise these issues vociferously on the floor of the House and will not shy away in criticizing the government. “After all, we have to take care of our organization too. Samarthan ka matlab samarpan nahi hota hai (Support to the government does not mean surrender to it),” he asserted.
Besides, every Congress district unit president has been asked to point out one major problem plaguing the district which could be raised for the welfare of the general masses in the Assembly.
The Congress leaders say that except for waiving of agriculture loan we have not been able to fulfil any of the promises made in our election manifesto. “So, we have to put pressure on the government to fulfil the promises so that we could go to the voters again to seek votes,” he said.
“We do not want to shy away from raising the issues strongly even if we are part of the government. We can’t ignore the aspirations of our organization. That is the reason Pradeep Yadav has been appointed deputy leader in the Assembly. He has been vocal in raising issues effectively. It will send a message when he speaks as deputy leader in the Assembly,” said a party leader.
The BJP which had disrupted the entire Monsoon session on the issue of allotting a separate room for offering namaz in the Assembly premises will also find all these issues readily available to put the government on the mat. Besides, it is also likely to raise the issue of alleged bungling in the JPSC recruitment and demand removal of JPSC Chairman Amitabh Chaudhary. The BJP legislature party will meet tomorrow to chalk out its plan.
The Congress legislature party will also meet on December 16 to decide its course of action. Congress legislature party leader Alamgir Alam said that the party’s agenda will be decided on the issues raised by our MLAs during the meeting.
