JVM delegation meets Guv as Marandi's dharna enters 14th day

Heading a party delegation, JVM legislature party leader Pradip Yadav met the governor at Raj Bhavan in Ranchi and handed over a memorandum pointing out the issues pertaining to the pact with a request to the governor to order a probe into them, sources in the Raj Bhavan said.

Yadav also informed the governor about party president and former chief minister Babulal Marandi's indefinite demonstration on the issues entering the 14th day today.

Addressing a joint press conference earlier in the day, Babulal Marandi and Congress leader Stephen Marandi said they would not end the demonstration till a tripartite agreement was assured by the management and the government.

"We will continue our dharna in support of the Samiti till an assurance by the management of the Panem that the agreement would be fulfilled and the government would be a party, making it a tripartite agreement," they said.

Referring to the reported coal shortage affecting power in Punjab following blockade of coal-rakes, Babulal Marandi said, "Panem should be held responsible for any shortage".

Meanwhile, Congress leader and former Jharkhand Assembly speaker Alamgir Alam backed party colleagues Stephen Marandi and Furkan Ansari saying they "are fighting for the rights of the displaced people".

"Both Stephen Marandi and Furkan Ansari are respected leaders of the Congress. They are fighting for the rights of the people," Alam added.

Alam is one of the members in the five-member committee set up by PCC chief and Rajya Sabha member Pradeep Kumar Balmachu to look into the two leaders "joining hands" with the JVM, which has withdrew support to the Manmohan Singh government recently.

Balmachu asked the committee it to submit a report to him within a week.