Jamshedpur: Jharkhand Andolankari Manch (JAM), a body of the Jharkhand activists who participated in separate Jharkhand statehood movement, on Saturday rejected the state government decision to give life-long monthly pension to the participants of separate statehood movement. "The announcement of pension made by the chief minister was one-sided and JAM rejects it outright," JAM Convenor Surya Singh Besra said at a press conference here.
Besra instead demanded that an accord should be signed only after reaching an agreement following a meeting between the government and JAM.
Besra, said JAM wanted that the Jharkhand activists, who sacrificed their prime time of their lives for separate statehood cause, should be given due recognition and the government should sign an accord with them on the line of Assam/Bodoland/Mizoram Accords signed between AASU, All Bodo Students Union and Mizoram leader Laldenga with their respective state governments.
Besra alleged that the state government?s announcement of pension was a ploy only to break the "fast unto death" agitation launched by Jharkhand activists led by Danpati Sardar since December 16 in Seraikela-Kharswan district. The agitation was withdrawn last evening only after the state Home secretary, J B Tubid assured to hold a meeting with JAM on December 27 at Ranchi, he claimed.
The Jharkhand government had announced that "Aandolankaris who had been jailed for over six months or more for participating in the statehood movement will get Rs 5000 and those who served less than six months will get Rs 3000 pension."
PTI