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Prez summons Jharkhand Governor

     New Delhi/Ranchi: The President of India, A.P.J.Abdul Kalam has summoned the Jharkhand Governor, Syed Sibte Razi to New Delhi for discussions. Razi is expected to reach Delhi tomorrow. The summon comes in the wake of the controversy in Jharkhand regarding the formation of the new government. Razi, on Wednesday, invited JMM chief Shibu Soren to form the new government in the state. Shibu was administered the oath yesterday. Opposition BJP-led NDA alliance, vociferously protested the Governor's judgement in Ranchi as well as in the Parliament. The ruckus led to the adjournment of both the Houses. The Lok Sabha has been adjourned for the day today following uproarious scenes. While the Upper House has been adjourned till 1400 hours by Chairman Bhairon Singh Shekhawat. To protest the Governor's decision, the BJP has called for a 12- hour bandh in Jharkhand. Earlier, Jharkhand Governor Syed Sibte Razi had sworn in the Congress backed JMM chief as the chief minister of the state. The move came exactly 24 hours after the NDA had paraded a majority of 41 MLAs in the 81-member assembly. To avoid any further damage, the NDA has flown in nearly all the 41 MLAs to prove to the President that they should have been asked to form the government.

NDA begins shutdown in Jharkhand (Go To Top)

     Ranchi: The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on Thursday took the lead in organising a shutdown across Jharkhand to protest against the state Governor, Syed Sibtey Razi's decision to invite the UPA to form the next government in the state under the leadership of Chief Minister Shibu Soren. The 12-hour shutdown has disrupted normal life in the state capital Rachi and in some other parts of the state. Shops and business establishments remained largely shut, while vehicular traffic on the roads was scant. Offices, both private and public, reflected scant attendance in view of the shutdown.The issue is also likely to disrupt proceedings in Parliament for the second consecutive day today. Top NDA leaders and MPs are also likely to meet President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam for a second time to prove the opposition coalition's strength to form the government in Jharkhand and to stress the point that they should have been asked to form the government. Apart from its 33 MLAs, NDA has the support of eight others, which makes it strength of 41 MLAs in all. "He (The President) is the protector of the Constitution and the Governor is his representative. So, if the Governor is working against the Constitution, action should be taken against him and he should be recalled," says S S Alhuwalia, a senior BJP leader.

     On Wednesday, Jharkhand Governor Syed Sibte Razi had sworn in JMM chief Shibu Soren along with six other ministers. This step led to the opposition pulling out all stops to stop what they termed a farce of democracy. Governor Razi, however, has defended his action and said that he will be meeting 12 newly-elected Independent MLAs today (Thursday) before formally deciding which political combination has the right to govern Jharkhand. Not only in Jharkhand the proceedings of the Parliament were disrupted in Delhi also, on Wednesday, by the protests held by NDA against governor's decision. Angry at the move top NDA leaders, including former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and BJP President LK Advani, had also met with the President. Meanwhile, Soren has been asked to prove his majority in the state assembly by March 21.

Parliament adjourned amid protests over Jharkhand, Goa (Go To Top)

     New Delhi: The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) today protested vociferously in both the Houses of Parliament against Jharkhand governor Syed Sibte Razi's decision to appoint Shibu Soren as the next chief minister of the state. Following the uproar both Houses were adjourned. As the Lok Sabha assembled, the NDA members started raising slogans to protest against the governor's move. They called it the "Murder of Democracy" in the state. Stating that the governor has installed a person having murder cases against him, BJP leader V. k. Malhotra called it the "blackest day in the history of Indian Democracy". The Speaker of Lok Sabha Somnath Chatterjee asked Malhotra not to drag the Governor in stating that it is against the rules of Parliament. But Malhotra's attack continued on Congress leadership. Following the uproar, Chatterjee adjourned the House for half-an- hour. On the other hand, Chairman of the Rajya Sabha Bhairon Singh Shekhawat adjourned the House till 2 o'clock.

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