President rule cannot be only solution to insurgency: JMM

Ranchi, Mar 8 (UNI) Jharkhand Deputy Chief Minister and senior JMM leader Sudhir Mahto today said insurgency was the biggest problem plaguing the state at present.

Mr Mahto, whose party's central working committee meeting last night was supposed to reconsider its support to the Madhu Koda-led UPA government, however, today maintained that President's Rule as demanded by the Congress and some other political parties was not the real solution to the vexed problem.

Talking to reporters here, Mr Mahto said the CWC met here for about three and a half hours and discussed the possible fallout of Jamshedpur MP and party's general secretary Sunil Mahto's assassination by the naxals on March 4.

He said during the meeting the party stressed on the need for having the model police act framed on the lines of West Bengal, Chhatisgarh and Andhra Pradesh adding Chief Minister Madhu Koda was briefed on the party's demand.

Mr Mahto expressed concern over the discrimination meted out to Jharkhand. He said about 20 battalion of paramilitary forces had been sent to a small state like Chhattisgarh whereas only five companies had been deployed in Jharkhand.

He said the state government would request the Centre to send more forces to combat insurgency adding experienced super cop like Ms S S Gil would be consulted in case of requirement.

On March 5, JMM general secretary and party MP Hemlal Murmu told reporters in Dumka district that as per incarcerated Jharkhand Mukti Morcha supremo Sibu Soren's decision, the party's central working committee would be convened here on March 7 to discuss the fallout of Mahto's killing besides their support the Koda government.

UNI