Jharkhand assembly foundation day: Governor remembers Vajpayee, CM credits father for creation of state

Jharkhand Governor Ramesh Bais on Tuesday thanked former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee for having created the state while chief minister Hemant Soren underlined that Jharkhand came into existence after a long movement for a separate state led by Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) patriarch and his father Shibu Soren.

Jharkhand was carved out of Bihar on November 15, 2000.

Addressing the gathering at the 22nd foundation day ceremony of Jharkhand assembly, both the Governor and the chief minister, however, underlined that both treasury and opposition members are equally responsible in fruitful functioning of the legislature.

Governor Bais and CM Soren were sharing stage after a long time amid the growing rift between Raj Bhawan and the JMM-led state government, which has accused the former of acting in a partisan manner and delaying in making public the Election Commission’s opinion over the office-of-profit involving the chief minister.

Despite being the chief guest, Bais had skipped attending the statehood day function on November 15, a day after CM Soren moved Jharkhand High Court seeking direction to restrain Raj Bhawan from taking action in pursuance to the EC’s opinion.

Addressing the gathering in the assembly on Tuesday, Bais said, “Jharkhand came into existence as the 28th state of India. On the occasion, I would like to remember Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee and thank him for having honoured the expectations of people and created Jharkhand in order to meet their aspirations.”

Underlining that such occasions are time to introspect about the journey travelled thus far, Bais said the onus to maintain the sanctity of elected bodies lies on elected representatives from across the spectrum.

“The legislators need to contribute in improving the image of the house. The decreasing number of assembly sittings and increasing disruptions of the house proceedings is a worrying aspect,” said Bais.

Speaking before the Governor, CM Soren said the state came into being after a long struggle. “People of this area, including tribals, dalits and the poor, have long been exploited. Several freedom fighters, including Birsa Munda, Chand-Bhairav and Nilamber-Pitamber, fought against the British. Our social struggle continued even after independence and after a long movement led by Guruji Shibu Soren, the state was created in 2000,” said Soren.

Meanwhile, CPI (ML) legislator Vinod Singh was felicitated on the occasion as the “excellent legislator” for the year.