Dissension in Jharkhand BJP over amendment in two land acts Ranchi, June 19 (IANS): The simmering discontent among the BJP leaders and legislators in Jharkhand over amendment in two land acts by the Raghubar Das government has come to the fore yet again. Former BJP state President and legislator Tala Marandi has said that the amendment was against the sentiments of the tribal people. The discontent was also aired when BJP national General Secretary Ram Madhav interacted with the party leaders and legislators in Ranchi on Saturday. The party's Core Committee members and legislators demanded withdrawal of the amendment in two land acts - Chotanagpur Tenancy Act (CNT) and Santhal Pargana Tenancy Act. Madhav, presently on a three-day visit to Jharkhand, is interacting with the party leaders in different districts. On Saturday, he discussed the government's functioning and party's position on the two land acts in Ranchi. He interacted with the BJP leaders in Seraikela-Kharsawa district the next day. He is scheduled to meet the party leaders in Khunti on Monday. Both Seraikela-Kharsawa and Khunti are tribal dominated districts. During the interaction, the party leaders openly aired their anguish over functioning of the state government and amendment in the two land acts. A BJP leader told IANS that they demanded withdrawal of the amendment in the two land acts and also informed Madhav that the party leaders have been sidelined by the government. The BJP's alliance partner, All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU), is also opposing the amendment in the two land acts along with the opposition parties. The protest over the amendment is going on a regular basis in the state. The Jharkhand government had passed the amendment in the two land acts in the Winter Session in December 2016. After the amendment, the state government can acquire land for industries, infrastructure and other works. Agriculture land can be used for non-agriculture purposes. The amendment passed by the state government is pending before Jharkhand Governor Draupadi Murmu. According to BJP leaders, the amendment has sent a wrong signal among the tribal community that constitutes 27 per cent of the state population. The BJP got majority of reserved tribal seats in the assembly and Lok Sabha elections. In 2014, the BJP won 12 of the 14 Lok Sabha seats and 37 of the 81 assembly seats. Case registered for bribing voters: TN CM Chennai, June 19 (IANS): Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K. Palaniswami on Monday told the state assembly that a case has been registered against the persons who allegedly indulged in bribing voters in the R.K. Nagar by-elections. Palaniswami said the case has been registered as per the Election Commission's directive. He was responding to the DMK members who raised the issue about the poll panel's directive to the Returning Officer of R.K. Nagar assembly constituency to register a First Information Report (FIR) against Palaniswami, four Ministers and the AIADMK candidate T.T.V.Dinakaran. However, Palaniswami did not disclose the name of the persons against whom the FIR was registered. Not satisfied with the reply, the DMK members walked out of the house and were followed by Congress lawmakers. DMK leader M.K. Stalin on Sunday flayed the "delay in filing an Election Commission recommended" criminal case against Palaniswami and the Ministers. PMK leader S. Ramadoss demanded the resignation of Palaniswami and the Ministers under a cloud so that the investigation in the case could progress in a proper fashion. The Election Commission had ordered the Returning Officer of the R.K. Nagar assembly constituency where the by-election was scheduled to be held but was later cancelled to file an FIR against Palaniswami, four Ministers and party candidate Dinakaran on the charge of attempting to bribe voters, Stalin said in a statement. He said the poll panel had also sent a 34-page report by the Income Tax Department to the state Chief Electoral Officer and the Chief Secretary. He said the Election Commission's order for lodging a police complaint was obtained from the poll panel by an applicant under the Right to Information (RTI) Act. Stalin said the delay in registering a complaint was nothing but disrespect to the Election Commission, a constitutional body. Asked by IANS on Sunday whether a FIR was lodged against Palaniswami and others as directed by the Election Commission, CEO Rajesh Lakhani was evasive. He said over 30 complaints have been registered by police for alleged electoral malpractices.
