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PRESS TRUST OF INDIA
PATNA, Sept 29: The banner of revolt has been raised in the ruling Rashtriya Janata Dal in Bihar by State Finance Minister Aklu Ram Mahato, over Vananchal, who has called a meeting of pro-Vananchal leaders, including MPs and legislators at Bokaro on October two, to demonstrate a show of unity.
He has already expressed his views favouring the Centre's move to create a separate state comprising 18 districts of South Bihar, he said, and ``nobody can stop me from raising the issue.''
Despite RJD president Laloo Prasad Yadav's firm resolve that any bifurcation of Bihar could only take place ``over my dead body'', Mahato, told over phone from Bokaro that he was even prepared to sacrifice his ministerial berth. ``I don't want people of Jharkhand to call me a traitor. I will not not like my grandson to be called gaddar ka pota (traitor's grandson),'' he said. Mahato said he had invited all MLAs and MPs, besides other senior leaders favouring Vananchal during the Dussera milan calledby him at Bokaro stadium to give a message to the State and nation that ``irrespective of our party affiliations we stand united to achieve the long-cherished goal of the Jharkhand masses.'' Mahato said he was personally contacting MLAs and MPs representing Jharkhand region to participate in the meeting which coincides with birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. He said the unified Janata Dal in its manifesto during 1995 Assembly elections in the State had also promised creation of a separate state to fulfill the aspirations of the people. Mahato is the lone one among six RJD ministers from South Bihar who has come out openly against the party leadership for opposing the draft legislation for a separate state, rejected by the Assembly during its special session on September 21. He said he was also contacting Jharkhand Mukti Morcha-(S) leaders including Sibu Soren to attend Friday's function. JMM-S had on September 16 formally withdrawn support to the Rabri Devi ministry following Laloo Yadav's `no' to aseparate state. Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
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