Marandi goes on fast against extremism

RANCHI: Undeterred by the consequences he may face from his party for going ahead with his agitation, BJP national vice- president Babulal Marandi on Wednesday began a 24-hour fast to draw the attention of the central and state governments on how extremism was hampering progress in the most backward areas of Jharkhand.

The former Chief Minister chose Sevatand in Giridih district, about 200 km from here, as the venue of his fast.

Marandi, who alleged that rampant corruption and growing extremism had hampered the progress in NDA-ruled Jharkhand, ignored the party national general secretary Sanjay Joshi's advice to call off his fast.

The BJP leader had also said that Naxalites have spread their activities in the 70-km stretch spreading from Giridih to Koderma in Jharkhand, bordering Bihar due to non-development of those areas.

In Jamshedpur on Sunday, Marandi charged the Munda government with rampant corruption at the highest level and said he would fight against corruption and extremism under the banner of Jharkhand Vikas Morcha, a non-political outfit floated in association with UPA convenor and independent MLA Stephen Marandi.