BJP to act as responsible oppn in J'khand if central schemes

Expressing shock over the abduction and brutal killing of seven tribals in Jharkhand's West Singhbhum district in January, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday said that he had never witnessed an incident "more gruesome" in his life.

Shah, during his address on the occasion of the JVM(P)'s merger with the BJP, also warned that his party would "put up a fight, which would extend from streets to Parliament", if there was a threat to law and order in Jharkhand.

He, however, gave assurances that the saffron party would stand by the JMM-led government in the state, as a responsible opposition, if welfare schemes by the Centre were successfully implemented.

"A new government has been formed (in Jharkhand). The erstwhile Raghubar Das government had taken forward the welfare schemes of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the interest of tribals, OBC and the poor. And, if it (Hemant Soren government) does the same, then the BJP would act as a responsible opposition," Shah said.

Noting that the BJP would strive to root out social ills, he said, "Seven tribal brothers were recently killed in West Singhbhum district. The BJP workers who visited the area gave me a report. I have never seen such gruesome and merciless murder (in life)."