Jharkhand turns 10: BJP, Congress blame each other for woes

RANCHI - As Jharkhand turns 10 Monday, the two main parties, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress, blame each other for the misery and poor development in the state.

State Congress president Pradeep Balumchu said: “The BJP-led government ruled for nearly seven years in the state. It never focused on development. Jharkhand is still counted as one of the most backward states.”

“The people of the state feel cheated,” he added.

The BJP, on other hand, blamed the Congress for the state’s woes.

“It was the Congress which destablised the BJP-led Arjun Munda government in 2006 and installed independent legislator Madhu Koda as chief minister. Koda’s tenure witnessed high level of corruption but Congress continued its support to him for two years despite knowing all the facts,” said Ramesh Pushkar, a BJP state executive member.

Jharkhand was carved out of Bihar Nov 15, 2000. Tribals account for 27 percent of the state’s population.

Assembly Speaker C.P. Singh of the BJP blamed political instability for the misery of the state.

The Maoist insurgency has spread from eight to 22 districts, there is not a single super speciality hospital in the state and the literacy rate at 54 percent is far below the national average of 65 percent.

The state produces only half the foodgrain it consumes.