By IANS,
Bhubaneswar : The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha’s (JMM) reported demand for a greater Jharkhand by carving out parts of Orissa has drawn widespread criticism in this state.
“I am strongly against (JMM chief) Shibu Soren’s demand,” Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik here told journalists Monday. “If the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) accepts the demand, it will be considered anti-Orissa,” Patnaik said.
Soren has reportedly presented a 13-point demand list to Congress president Sonia Gandhi in return for JMM’s support to the ruling UPA government at the centre for the trust vote Tuesday.
This includes the proposal for a greater Jharkhand by carving out at least three districts from Orissa and West Bengal.
“This is a clear move by the Congress party and the JMM to divide Orissa,” Bharatiya Janata Party national vice president Jual Oram told IANS. “We will not allow this at any cost. We will not give an inch of Orissa,” he said.
Several other organisations and political parties have issued statements condemning the reported move by Soren.