From rxpgnews.com
JMM wants law to protect Jharkhand's resources
By IANS,
Apr 10, 2007 - 4:48:23 PM
Ranchi, April 10 - The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha -, a constituent of Jharkhand's coalition government, has demanded a law to bar 'outsiders' from exploiting natural resources of the state.
'The northeastern states are protected under Schedule VI of the constitution and residents of Jammu and Kashmir are protected under Article 370. We want a similar law to protect the interests of the people of the state,' said a message from JMM chief Shibu Soren issued in the form of a pamphlet.
'Such laws are needed to prevent outsiders from residing in the state and capturing natural resources of the state. Laws are needed to protect the resources which are still not exploited by the outsiders,' it said.
The message from the jailed JMM leader - he was convicted in the murder of his personal secretary - created a flutter in political circles here.
'The JMM's demand is against the unity of the country. We are in favour of improving the condition of the people of the state but it does not mean we should talk against the interest of the nation,' said P.N. Singh, president of the state unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party -.
Put on the defensive, the JMM hurriedly called a press conference Tuesday.
'Our demand does not mean the application of Article 370 in Jharkhand. We only want that the natural resources should be reserved for the local people and no further displacement should take place in the state,' senior JMM leader Supriya Bhattacharya said.
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