Lagatar24 Network
Ranchi, Aug 13: The arrest of Jamtara MLA Irfan Ansari was conspicuously felt during the ‘Gaurav Yatra’ programme of the party in Jamtara as a large number of party workers stayed away.
Irfan Ansari who is Jamtara MLA was arrested by Bengal police on July 30 along with two other party MLAs namely Rajesh Kacchap (Khijri) and Naman Bixel Kongari of Kolebira along with cash to the tune of Rs 50 Lakh. They were charged for destabilizing the Hemant Soren JMM-Congress-RJD government in Jharkhand. They were suspended from the party and are currently in judicial custody.
A section of the party as well as supporters of the MLA was adamant not to allow any party programme without Irfan Ansari. Even Furkan Ansari, former Godda MP and father of the arrested MLA, maintained distance with the programme.
On Friday, the Tiranga rally was taken out from Mihijam block. Spokesperson Irshadul Arshi along with other local workers like Birbal Ansari was not active. Even Jamtara district Congress president Mukta Mandal was not forthcoming.
The state leadership pressed former minister KN Tripathi to ensure the full presence of the party workers. Tripathi persuaded them to join the programme and said that disciplinary actions will be taken for acting against the party interest.
“Gaurav yatra was organized to bring the sense of unity among people and preserve the true secular fabric of the country which is under threat following divisive policies of the BJP. The Gaurav Yatra held at Mihijam was successful and there was good participation of people and party workers,” said Tripathi.
But a top party leader said that the programme remained a low key affair. “Good or bad but Irfan Ansari and his father have influence over the minority votes and Jamtara has a sizeable presence of minority voters. Today the Gaurav yatra was taken at Nala assembly area which is under Jamtara district. Nala seat is represented by the JMM. Tomorrow Gauarv Yatra will be taken at Narainpur and we are not sure about the turn-out. The personal issues of Irfan Ansari should not come in between the programme,” said the leader.
But the Gaurav yatra held in Khijri and Kolebira was not affected by any such local sentiment. “MLAs remain connected with local workers. But mind these MLAs are not mahatma (saint) and the allegations are serious in nature. In any case, they are not above the party,” said a senior office bearer of the Jharkhand Congress.
