Today's bandh supporters ruled Jharkhand in 2000: Congress

The Jharkhand Congress today lashed out at the three Opposition parties for enforcing statewide bandh today, saying that they had failed to develop the state during their regime after its creation.

"The first chief minister (Babulal Marandi) and his alliance partners (Ajsu/JDU) had ruled the state after its creation, but failed to lay a strong foundation for the development of the state. Now they are resorting to vandalism at various places during the bandh," PCC president Sukhdeo Bhagat said.

He was referring to Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantric) president and former Chief Minister Babulal Marandi, Ajsu party president and former deputy chief minister Sudesh Mahto and Janata Dal (U) president and former minister Jaleswar Mahato. All the party leaders separately enforced bandh demanding special status category for Jharkhand.

Both Sudesh Mahto and Jaleswar Mahato were ministers in the erstwhile Marandi-led NDA government from November 15, 2000 to March, 2002.

Without taking their names, Bhagat said, "The people who got the responsibility to rule the state after its creation remained unsuccessful in their duty."