By IANS
Ranchi : A Congress legislator in Jharkhand has launched an indefinite fast as a protest against state Rural Development Minister Enos Ekka’s remarks about the party.
Niel Tirkey, the legislator, began his fast Tuesday at the Simdega district administration office.
Ekka, at a rally in Simdega Monday, alleged that the Congress leader in-charge in Jharkhand created trouble for the coalition government to get a “suitcase”, referring to money.
“I will sit on fast till the minister is not removed from Chief Minister Madhu Koda’s cabinet or the party (Congress) withdraws support from the government,” Tirkey told reporters in Simdega, about 120 km from here.
“Today the minister is abusing union minister and Congress (party’s) in-charge of Jharkhand Ajay Maken. Tomorrow he can abuse even our national president Sonia Gandhi,” Tirkey said.
The Congress is one of the dominant partners in the coalition government in the state, led by Chief Minister Madhu koda, an independent. The Congress has lately been threatening to pull out if Koda did not improve his style of functioning.
The government had recently drafted a Common Minimum Programme (CMP) in a record time of two days just ahead of the expiry of a 60-day Congress ultimatum to the government to shape up.
Reacting to Tirkey’s fast, the minister said: “The Congress legislator is worried over the development work undertaken by the government in Simdega. As far as allegations are concerned, such things take place. Political parties and leaders accuse each other.”
Both Ekka and Tirkey belong to Simdega.
The Congress has, however, taken the issue seriously. “We have sought clippings of the newspapers. We will go through it. Chief Minister Madhu Koda should look into the issue,” said Pradeep Kumar Balmuchu, state Congress president.