The Hindu : Front Page : Talk of ‘merger’ angers members

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Talk of ‘merger’ angers members

Special Correspondent

BHUBANESWAR: Legislators cutting cross party lines on Thursday criticised Jharkhand Mukti Morcha president Shibu Soren for his recent demand for merger of three districts of Orissa with Jharkhand for creation of Greater Jharkhand. The issue was discussed in the Assembly after a motion in this regard was moved by Government Chief Whip Bikram Keshari Arukha.

The discussion that continued till late in the evening, however, remained inconclusive and will resume on Friday. Participating in a discussion on the issue, leaders belonging to both the ruling and opposition parties said they would not allow merger of even an inch of the State’s land with Jharkhand.

Several legislators of the ruling BJD-BJP alliance blamed the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre for allowing the JMM to make the demand for the merger of Mayurbhanj, Sundargarh and Keonjhar districts of the State with Jharkhand. However, members of the Congress countered the charge saying that the ruling alliance was making all-out efforts to draw political mileage out of the whole issue. Senior Congress member Narasingha Mishra suggested that the House pass a resolution declaring that the State would not be allowed to be divided for creation of any separate State and that no part of the State be allowed to be merged with any of the neighbouring States in the future.

Fertilizer shortage

Earlier in the day, the issue pertaining to shortage of fertilizer was discussed in the House in the form of an adjournment motion. Replying to the motion brought by Satyabhushan Sahu of the Congress, Agriculture Minister Surendranath Nayak said the farmers were facing shortage of several varieties of fertilizers due to inadequate allocation by the Centre. The Congress members, however, argued that the artificial shortage of fertilizer was created by the State government itself. The Minister, however, admitted that many unscrupulous traders were trying to cash in on the situation. Those who were selling fertilizer in black were being taken to task, Mr. Nayak said.

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