NDA comes under fire on firing range at Netarhat

Ranchi, Sep 3 (UNI) The Jharkhand government's stand on firing range at Netarhat today came under fire with the Congress today threatening to take the matter to the Defence Ministry and if required to the Prime Minster as well.

AICC secretary and Rajya Sabha member from the state Mabel Rebelo expressing concern over the BJP-led NDA government's "lackadaisical" attitude towards the displaced people from the firing range said her party would ''merge'' with the victims to wage their war with the state government to ''get back'' their rights.

Ms Rebello said about three lakh people were being dislodged because of the firing range and they could be left to their ''ill fortune''.

'' I will certainly talk to the Defence Minister and if required to the Prime Minister to bring the Centre's attention to the plight of the poor adivasis, who have been subjected to state government's apathy, '' she told newspersons at a press conference here.

Ms Rebello said her party would launch statewide campaign to ensure that remaining people at the area were not dislodged.

The local people there had been demanding that the firing range be shifted to other place.

The firing range which was earlier in Gaya district of Bihar had been shifted to Netarhat. The re-notification in this regard was issued in 2002 with a lease for next twenty years.

UNI AM-PRS SJC/src1416