Maoists target only corrupt people: Jharkhand Governor K Sankaranarayanan

Maoists at a memorial for those killed in police encounters in the Nallamalla forest, south of Hyderabad.

RANCHI: The Governor had recently said that Maoists target only corrupt people. Reacting to that, Sinha said by issuing such statements, Sankaranarayanan has branded all martyrs and political leaders killed by Maoists as corrupt. “It is unfortunate that a person of Governor’s stature could issue such a deplorable statement. He must give an explanation and abstain from glorifying the outlaws,” Sinha said at a press conference here on Monday.

He further stated that such statements would only encourage Maoists and hamper police morale on the other. “No policeman would dare sacrifice his life once he realises that the government will brand him as corrupt if killed by Maoists,” said Sinha.

The former Union finance minister even accused Congress of patronising corrupt officials to divert NREGA (National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) funds for election expenses. “At a recent meeting with district officials, the government agreed that around Rs 1,000 crore under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act was surrendered. It is shameful and the governor should be held responsible for this,” he said.

Citing example of a road being constructed at Morda village under Gola block of Ramgarh district, Sinha said though Rs 5 lakh was released to build a pebbled road, not a single inch of work has been done yet. Once a complaint was lodged, it was investigated by the junior engineer, who readily gave a clean chit to the contractor. “This happens only when a contractor acts in connivance with government officials. But the government has not taken any action yet,” Sinha said.

Speaking about the discrepancies in the BPL list, Sinha said new names must be included in the BPL list. “I was told that there is a restriction from the Union government against adding new names. But the situation in Jharkhand is different in wake of the drought,” he said, threatening to launch an agitation from October 11 if the Governor does not ensure inclusion of new names within 15 days. TOI