A delegation of Left Parties called on Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren and sought his intervention to improve the law & order situation and tackle the problem of drought in the state. The delegation included the CPI(M) State Secretary Gopikant Bakshi, former CPI(M) MLA Rajendra Singh Munda, CPI's K.D. Singh and RSP's Radhakant Jha.
The memorandum submitted to the Chief Minister expressed concern over the sharply deteriorating law & order situation throughout the state, including the capital city Ranchi and highlighted the graph of heinous crimes of gang rapes, murder, abduction of women and children and female trafficking. It demanded that police should deal with the culprits sternly and a special task force be set up. It also demanded that the CBI probe into the gang rape and murder of two school girls in the Police Line of Deoghar by the wards of the police personnel in May. Despite the Governor's order at that time, the CBI probe is yet to be initiated.
The delegation said that since several parts of the state were witnessing dry spell, the Government should declare drought in Jharkhand, start relief programmes immediately, waive farmers' loans, sanction fresh loans without interest, extend working days of MNREGA, supply 35 kgs. of food grains to affected families per month at the rate of 1 rupee per kg and supply essential commodities through the Public Distribution System. The issue of 11.40 lakh beneficiaries of the additional BPL list who were being deprived of food grains for the last 4 months, was also raised and restoration of supply demanded.
The delegation also drew attention of the Chief Minister towards concerted attempts being made by communal forces to disrupt the communal harmony in the state. The Chief Minister discussed all these issues raised by the delegation and promised to look into the matter.
September 23, 2013