Chief minister Nitish Kumar will lead Janata Dal(United) leaders and workers while observing a 24-hour fast on March 14 to protest the land acquisition bill and other policies of the BJP-led government at the Centre.
The fast is part of the JD(U)’s campaign to take on the resurgent BJP in the state assembly elections due later this year.
Nitish announced the fast while addressing party workers on March 1, and it was endorsed by party president Sharad Yadav.
“The JD(U) has decided to observe 24-hour fast on March 14 to protest against the NDA government’s land acquisition bill and other policies having wider ramification for the country and its people,” said state JD(U) president Bashistha Narayan Singh, adding that the new land legislation was a gross injustice to farmers.
He said that party functionaries would observe the fast at the JD(U) office in Patna, while party workers would observe the fast at the district and block levels simultaneously. Singh added that the JD(U) would also formulate a host of agitations in the future to sustain its campaign against the NDA government on issues affecting the public.
He, however, refused to comment on the protests to be held by former CM Jitan Ram Manjhi against the annulment of cabinet decisions taken before his resignation. “I have nothing to say on Manjhi’s fast… But one thing is certain that he has been working at the behest of the BJP for the past many months,” Singh said.
{{/usCountry}}He, however, refused to comment on the protests to be held by former CM Jitan Ram Manjhi against the annulment of cabinet decisions taken before his resignation. “I have nothing to say on Manjhi’s fast… But one thing is certain that he has been working at the behest of the BJP for the past many months,” Singh said.
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