Marandi's fast enters sixth day

Rejecting Jharkhand chief minister Arjun Munda's request to call off his hunger strike, JVM-P chief Babulal Marandi continued his fast-unto-death which entered the sixth day on Friday.

Rejecting Jharkhand chief minister Arjun Munda's request to call off his hunger strike, JVM-P chief Babulal Marandi continued his fast-unto-death which entered the sixth day on Friday.

HT Image

A diabetic, the former chief minister began the hunger strike on May 1, demanding that a special Assembly session be convened to pass a bill that would protect the people who had been displaced or face the threat of displacement following encroachment in government land.

Marandi had on Thursday said the first round meeting between his party representatives and Munda had "failed", but added that he was ready to continue further dialogue in the interest of the displaced.

Munda said he had already given sanction, "on behalf of the cabinet", to bring in an ordinance that would protect the people who had deviated from official design.

But Marandi insisted to convene a special session of the state Assembly to discuss the outline of a bill to prevent any violent incidents in future as was witnessed last month in Ranchi and Dhanbad during anti-encroachment drive in which six persons were killed.