Tirkey's dharna on with "oust Ekka" cry

Ranchi, Jun 14 (UNI) Continuing his dharna at the Assemlby premises for the second day, senior Congress MLA Niel Tirkey today said his protest would not end till Rural Developmnt Minister Anosh Ekka was removed from the Madhu Koda-led UPA government in Jharkhand.

Sitting on dharna along with 82 supporters, Mr Tirkey told UNI he could not compromise on the issue that Independent MLA Anosh, a minister in the nine-month-old Congress-backed government, could dare insult the national party and harass party workers.

''I cannot take such insult and humiliation lying down,'' he said adding Rajya Sabha MP and in-charge of Jharkhand Noor Bano would arrive here on June 22 and if required he would continue with his agitation till her arrival.

Yesterday, a day after Chief Minister Madhu Koda went on a five-day honeymoon, Mr Tirkey resorted to dharna demanding Mr Ekka's removal from the UPA government.

Mr Tirkey even sought to resign from the Assembly demanding Ekka's removal, but state Congress president Pradeep Kumar Balmuchu and Ms Bano persuaded him not to act in haste.

The rivalry between the duo might cause another problem to the Koda government, specially at a time when the chief minister was out of the state on a private tour.

UNI