Jamshedpur: Twenty-six freedom fighters who
were to be felicitated by the Jharkhand government on the
occasion of Independence Day here did not turn up in protest
against the government’s "apathy to keep its promise".
The 26 freedom fighters of the East Singhbhum district
were listed to be honoured at Gopal Maidan on the occasion of
Independence Day but the tent set up for them remained vacant.
The freedom fighters alleged that the government had
promised to provide them houses or plot for construction of
houses last year but they did not fulfil the promise.
Alleging that the state government had not taken any
initiative in this regard as yet, the freedom fighters decided
to refrain from taking part in the celebration, Jagannath
Mohanty, spokesman of Singhbhum Zilla Swantrata Senani
Sangathan, said here.
He said former Deputy Chief Minister Raghuvar Das had
promised to build houses or allot plots to them in three
months time while unfurling national flag on this day last
year.
Das, in fact, had initiated steps in this regard but
the district administration adopted negligent approach, he
said.
When contacted for his reaction, Jharkhand Deputy
Chief Minister Hemant Soren, who hoisted the national flag on
the occasion, said the government would take the initiative
and keep its promise in six month time.
PTI
