Thaindian News

Ranchi, April 18 (IANS) Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Yashwant Sinha Monday called off his indefinite protest against the demolition drive across Jharkhand after the party-led state government decided to move the high court for a month’s stay.

“The cabinet has decided to form a three member committee to prepare a report how to help the poor families affected due to the demolition drive. It also decided to file a modification petition in the court seeking one month’s time,” state Cabinet Secretary Aditya Swaroop told reporters.

The three member committee include the development commissioner, the land and revenue secretary and the urban development secretary.

After the cabinet decision was announced, Sinha called off his agitation. “I will again sit on an indefinite strike if people will not get relief,” he told reporters.

The Arjun Munda government found itself in an embarrassing position with several top leaders joining Sinha in the protest against a demolition drive that has affected more than 100,000 people.

The sit-in against the court ordered demolitions that have seen more than 4,200 illegal structures being razed has been going on at the Birsa roundabout here. On Monday, Sinha found more support when former state BJP president Raghubar Das joined in.

Sinha also got support from former Jharkhand assembly speaker and Palamau Lok Sabha MP Inder Singh Namdhari.

“I support Sinha. India is a welfare state and people cannot be displaced in an inhumane way. Being a welfare state, it is the duty of the government to formulate a rehabilitation policy. The affected people should be first rehabilitated,” he said.

Sinha, the Lok Sabha MP from Hazaribagh, began the indefinite sit-in Sunday.

“We are against the demolition drive and the way it is being executed. The demolition drive should be stopped immediately. Democracy and bulldozer cannot exist together,” Sinha told reporters.

“The government should move the high court to seek a stay on the demolition drive… The affected people should first be rehabilitated and only then should the demolition drive start.”

A large section of BJP leaders are against the demolition drive, party insiders said.

In the last one month, more than 4,200 illegal structures have been demolished in the state, affecting more than 100,000 people. In the next two to three weeks, the ongoing drive, on the directive of the Jharkhand High Court, could render more than 500,000 people homeless.

Three people, two in Ranchi and one in Dhanbad, have died of shock after they were served notice.