Opposition accuse Shibu Soren government of favouring Maoists

Ranchi, Jan 7 (ANI): With reports of Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren all set to seek a vote of confidence in the assembly on Thursday, the opposition parties in Jharkhand staged a protest accusing the government of favouring the Maoists.

Congress and Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (JVM) party activists raised slogans and held posters against the state government for allegedly favouring Maoists and for the failed law and order situation in Jharkhand.

"People knew about operation Green Hunt even before elections. They have entered into a pact with Maoists to stop Green Hunt operation. Maoists are scared of this operation, as they will lose their hold in this region if operation Green Hunt is implemented," said JVM leader Pradeep Yadav.

"So these talks are just an excuse, actually it is just a conspiracy to stop operation Green Hunt. And we will strongly raise these issues in the Assembly on Thursday," he added.

Yadav further said that they would vote against the JMM-BJP coalition and would go all out to embarrass the government by 'exposing their opportunistic alliance'.

Shibu Soren on the other hand reiterated his stand and told the media on Thursday that he was ready to hold talks with the Maoists.

"We are watching what Maoists are doing and what they want to do. We have announced as well that they should come and talk to us. They should come and talk about their problems with us," said Soren.

The JMM Chief heads a coalition government that includes the NDA and other small parties and claims to have the support of 46 MLAs.

Besides his 18-member JMM, the other supporting MLAs are the NDA with 20, the AJSU-5, the Jharkhand Jan-adhikar Manch-one, the Rashtriya Kalyan Paksh with one and one Independent MLA - Bidesh Singh.

The new government is the seventh in Jharkhand since its creation nine years back. (ANI)