Ranchi, April 6 (IANS) A day after violence here, Jharkhand's ruling alliance partners Wednesday alleged the Congress and its MP Subodh Kant Sahay, who is a union minister, are politicising the anti-encroachment drive being executed on the orders of the high court.
Sahay, who is Congress party's Ranchi Lok Sabha MP, was arrested Tuesday while protesting the anti-encroachment drive. He was released in the evening. The drive turned ugly when police fired at violent protesters, resulting in the death of a youth.
Ranchi witnessed violence after protesters blocked roads at many places by setting tyres on fire. They hurled stones at passersby and police.
"Subodh Kant Sahay is playing politics. The demolition drive is being executed at the directive of the Jharkhand High Court. There is no role of the government in the demolition," Haji Hussain Ansari, the state's cooperative affairs minister and senior Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), told reporters Wednesday.
The Jharkhand High Court Tuesday directed the state government to complete the anti-encroachment drive by April 20 and submit detailed reports to the court.
The demolition drive is on in Islamnagar and Alinagar of Ranchi. Last week, houses and shops situated in Nagababa Khatal of Ranchi were demolished. In the last two weeks, more than 3,000 shops, houses and other illegal buildings have been either demolished or sealed.
"It is very sad that Congress leader Subodh Kant is making provocative speeches to instigate the people. The demolition drive is going on where there is encroachment on directive of the court. If anyone has any problem, they should move court to seek a stay," Pradeep Sinha, Jharkhand Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson, told IANS.
"The demolition drive is going on peacefully Wednesday. But on Tuesday, Ranchi city witnessed unrest due to Sahay's provocative speeches."
The two main opposition parties, Congress and Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (JVM-P), have condemned the police firing in which one youth was killed and more than 13 people were injured Tuesday and have called a shutdown in Ranchi Thursday.
"Congress has called a shutdown Thursday to protest police firing. Our party condemned the demolition drive executed in a barbaric way," Shailesh Sinha, Jharkhand Congress spokesperson, told IANS.