Soren rues for not seeing Sunil Mahto

Jamshedpur, Aug 27 (UNI) Jharkhand Mukti Morcha supremo Shibu Soren today regretted missing accompanying assassinated party MP Sunil Mahto in his last journey.

Addressing an election rally in favour of the party candidate for Jamshedpur Lok Sabha bypoll and the wife of the departed leader, Suman Mahto, Mr Soren, who was freed from the jail after Delhi High Court's acquittal order in a murder case, said Mr Mahto was like his son and he would be repenting for life for not meeting his ''son once again.'' Guruji, as Mr Soren was known to his followers, was behind bars when Mr Mahto was gunned down by the naxals at Baghuria village on March 4 this year.

Mr Soren appealed to the people not to forget the sacrifice of Mr Mahto and his good work as a devoted soldier of the party and his service to the people of his constituency in his brief stint as an MP.

Mr Soren also regretted to see the condition of Jharkhand for which he sacrified 40 years of his life during the Jharkhand movement for creation of separate tribal state. But he hoped he would build a strong and prosperous Jharkhand with the help of the people.

He said despite a mineral-rich state the people of Jharkhand were ''begging and looking for help from other states''.

Expressing faith in the democratic system, Mr Soren said depsite injustice meted out to the state, justice would not be denied to the people of the state.

Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Madhu Koda called upon the people to defeat the communal and divisive forces and said, '' We'll not allow to go the sacrifice of Mr Mahto. '' Deputy Chief Minister Sudhir Mahto said the late leader had always worked for the people and raised thier issues in Parliament.

He said the victory of his wife Suman Mahto would be a befitting tribute to his late husband.

UNI