No threat to Koda government: Mahto

Jamshedpur, Jan 18 (UNI) Jharkhand Deputy Chief Minister Sudhir Mahto today said despite the Congress' ''pressure tactics'', the Madhu Koda-led UPA government in the state was secured.

Talking to mediapersons here, Mr Mahto after returning from New Delhi today said the 'grievances' which the Congress had brought against the state government will be considered and talks were on to resolve the 'crisis'.

Mr Mahto admitted that the pace of development was not up to the mark andit needed to be accelerated. However, he claimed that the development work at the grass-root level was satisfactory.

He said the meeting of the steering committee, headed by JMM supremo Shibu Soren, would be held soon to chalk out a comprehensive strategy to run the government as per the guidelines laid in the Common Minimum Programme(CMP).

To a question, Mr Mahto said the government was scrutinising the National Rehabilitation and Resettlement (R&R) policy to make it people friendly.

''We are going through the Centre's R&R policy and if necessary we may amend it before submitting for the cabinet's approval,'' Mr Mahto reiterated.

Mr Mahto, also a JMM leader, said his party wanted a consensus UPA candidate for the Simaria Assembly bypoll and the JMM would not field the candidate.

''We are also trying to convince the Congress to withdraw its candidate so that there will be a one to one contest,'' he said.

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