Jharkhand Lawmaker Said Open Liquor Shop In Assembly Complex. This Is Why

Ranchi: A lawmaker in Jharkhand who apparently tried to use sarcasm to take potshots at the government for launching state-run liquor vends has landed in a bit of a soup. The ruling BJP has taken Jharkhand Mukti Morcha or JMM lawmaker Kunal Sarangi to task for demanding that the government should open a liquor shop in the assembly complex too so that lawmakers do not have to queue up elsewhere.Jharkhand s labour minister Raj Paliwal suggested he wasn t surprised because JMM leaders could do anything urban development minister CP Singh castigated the young lawmaker for unabashedly making an outrageous demand while the Congress has called the demand a conspiracy to defame Jharkhand.The demand first made last week was meant as a takedown of the Raghubar Das government s new excise policy that gave state-run firms the right to sell liquor ostensibly to raise revenue from liquor sales.Some JMM lawmakers had earlier inspired by neighbouring Bihar prohibition policy had demanded a ban on sale of liquor in the state. But the demand had been rejected by the BJP government.No one gets satire it seems rued the 33-year-old Baharagora lawmaker who followed his father s footsteps into politics after picking up an engineering degree from Jamshedpur s National Institute of Technology and a masters from England s Lancaster University.On social media Mr Sarangi argued that the government could save more than thrice the Rs 1 500 crore earned from liquor sales if it ensured government projects are completed on time.If revenue was the only motivation he wondered why the government wasn t opening casinos too in line with their government in Maharashtra and Goa . Play An annual tribal fair in a village in Littipara block of Jharkhand has suddenly got the Bharatiya Janata Party s goat. The festival known as the Siddho-Kanho mela features a number events for the local primarily Santhali population including one that has now made national headlines: A kissing contest. The BJP complaining about the event has talked about how it is a vulgarity and a humiliation of the female power. But video of the event provided by the organisers of the Siddho-Kanho mela which has been taking place for the last few years suggests something much more harmless. Couples are seen pecking each other on the cheeks as they race across a field presumably to see who can cross the finish line first and win cash prizes while a crowd cheers on. Senior Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leader Simon Marandi who has organised the fair for a few years now and was elected as the area s Member of Legislative Assembly in a bypoll this year said the whole idea of the competition is to ensure married couples get to know each other better. Only married couples irrespective of their faith were allowed to take part Marandi told the Telegraph. He claimed that divorce has been increasing among the Santhali people and one of the reasons might be because couples do not get to talk to each other freely. A newlywed wife sneaks into her bedroom like a thief after family members are fast asleep. He elaborated on this while speaking to the Indian Express saying is not about making people modern as such because tribals have their own lifestyle. But it is also true that there is a growing trend among tribals of divorcing their spouses. Men and women both leave their current spouses to marry somebody else. This leads to families breaking up. This event was intended to make love blossom between the couples. In fact the name of the fair in Santhali language literally means kiss of love (prem ka chumban). The BJP does not seem to agree. Hemlal Murmu the party s state vice-president who lost to Marandi earlier this year said that such things are not allowed in tribal culture. In Santhal traditions the girl and boy do not even shake hands. Kissing is something way too far. Santhal tradition never had such a thing. Also this fair is being organised in the name of Siddo Kanu (tribal icons) and the Hul revolt which they led. But at this time it is neither the birth anniversary of these brave leaders nor of the Hul revolt. This is humiliation of the female power. By: Express News Service | Ranchi | Updated: December 12 2017 7:43 am Chief Minister of Jharkhand Raghubar Das. (Express photo) Top News Don t hesitate to bluff voters Karnataka BJP leader tells workers17 year old missing from Thane found dead in MatheranIndia vs Sri Lanka 2nd ODI Live Cricket Streaming Online: When and where to watch IND vs SL 2nd ODI TV coverage and Cricket ScoreAn alleged kissing competition in a local fair in Littipara Assembly constituency of Jharkhand s Pakur district on the evening of December 9 has led to a row with the state BJP criticising Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) MLA Simon Marandi who had attended the programme of trivialising tribal culture. Marandi said this was just to prevent married couples from seeking divorce which he claimed was some sort of trend in the Santhal community. The fair held every year was held in Talapahari village of Littipara Assembly constituency where Marandi was elected the MLA in the bypoll in April this year. One of the events in the fair was the kissing competition in which couples were asked to kiss each other in public. Around 20-odd couples participated. Speaking to The Indian Express over phone Marandi said: I don t understand what the hullabaloo is about. This fair has been held for a long time and several competitions are organised. Since it was a local affair I had to attend it. Supporting the kissing competition Marandi said: It is not about making people modern as such because tribals have their own lifestyle. But it is also true that there is a growing trend among tribals of divorcing their spouses. Men and women both leave their current spouses to marry somebody else. This leads to families breaking up. This event was intended to make love blossom between the couples. In fact the name of the fair in Santhali language literally means kiss of love (prem ka chumban). Asked about the BJP Marandi said: I don t know what they are saying. In any case do the BJP people know the realities of the village? Do they even visit one? Hemlal Murmu the state BJP vice-president and the man who unsuccessfully contested against Marandi said in a press conference that such event amounted to trivialising tribal culture. In Santhal traditions the girl and boy do not even shake hands. Kissing is something way too far. Santhal tradition never had such a thing. Also this fair is being organised in the name of Siddo Kanu (tribal icons) and the Hul revolt which they led. But at this time it is neither the birth anniversary of these brave leaders nor of the Hul revolt. This is humiliation of the female power. Murmu demanded that Marandi should not be allowed to attend the Assembly session that starts from Tuesday. For all the latest India News download Indian Express App More Top News Inside pictures from Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma s post-wedding DJ party Live Cricket Score India vs Sri Lanka Live Score 2nd ODI in Mohali: India off to cautious start against Sri Lanka NEW DELHI: A court here on Wednesday convicted former Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda among others on corruption charges in a coal block allocation case. Special Judge Bharat Parashar held Koda former Coal Secretary H.C. Gupta Jharkhand s then Chief Secretary A.K. Basu among others guilty of criminal conspiracy and cheating under various provisions of Prevention of Corruption Act. The quantum of punishment will be announced on Thursday. The court s order came in the case related to Jharkhand s Rajhara North coal block allocation to Vini Iron and Steel Udyog Ltd (Visul). The Central Bureau of Investigation had alleged Koda Gupta and others conspired to favour Visul in allocating the coal block. New Delhi: A special court in Delhi today held former Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda former Coal Secretary HC Gupta guilty of corruption in the Jharkhand coal scam case related to alleged irregularities in the allocation of the Rajhara North coal block in Jharkhand to Kolkata-based Vini Iron and Steel Udyog Ltd (VISUL). The special CBI court will hear arguments on the quantum of punishment tomorrow.Besides 46-year-old Koda Mr Gupta and the firm the other accused in the case included former Jharkhand Chief Secretary AK Basu two public servants VISUL s director Koda s alleged close aide Vijay Joshi and a chartered accountant.The court however acquitted VISUL s director Vaibhav Tulsyan and public servants Basant Kumar Bhattacharya and Bipin Bihari Singh and chartered accountant Navin Kumar Tulsyan of all charges.During arguments the CBI alleged that the firm had applied for allocation of Rajhara North coal block on January 8 2007. It said although the Jharkhand government and Steel Ministry did not recommend VISUL s case for coal block allocation the 36th Screening Committee recommended the block to the accused firm.The CBI said that Mr Gupta who was the chairman of the screening committee had allegedly concealed facts from then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who then headed the Coal Ministry too that Jharkhand had not recommended VISUL for allocation of a coal block.Mr Koda Mr Basu and two accused public servants conspired to favour VISUL in the coal block allocation the agency added. The accused had refuted the allegations. By: PTI | Published: December 12 2017 9:45 pm Mamata Banerjee said if the Trinamool Congress had the kind of reserves that Jharkhand has it would have harvested gold in Bengal. (Source: Express photo by Subham Dutta) Related News Set up liaison offices to protect workers outside state Congress tells CM Mamata Banerjee We don t discriminate between Hindus and Muslims our development is for all says Mamata BanerjeeGujarat assembly polls: Congress has won by putting BJP on backfoot says Mamata BanerjeeWest Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday said the BJP-ruled Jharkhand has failed to usher in development despite being a mineral-rich state. She said if the Trinamool Congress had the kind of reserves that Jharkhand has it would have harvested gold in Bengal. Jharkhand has plenty of minerals yet development did not take place in that BJP-ruled state she said while addressing a public meeting in Purulia here bordeing Jharkhand. She alleged minorities are being tortured in Rajasthan and Dalits are facing atrocities in Gujarat but her party did not divide people in West Bengal. There are many people from Bihar and Jharkhand and all consider West Bengal as their home. Similarly there are people from Bengal who go to other states for work she said. She said migrant labourers who are willing to return to the state will find jobs back home and instructed the district magistrates to note down the names of the people returning to their homes leaving jobs in other states and provide work to them under the 100-day-work scheme. I don t want my brothers and sisters to face any danger while working in other states she said Banerjee said that her government has developed Purulia which was once the stronghold of the Maoists and witnessed bloodbath. She said that peace has returned to Purulia and tourists are visiting the place. For all the latest India News download Indian Express App More Related News No differences between Hindus and Muslims in West Bengal says CM Mamata Banerjee Mamata Banerjee plans more district visits ahead of 2018 panchayat polls Tags: Mamata Banerjee A senior Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leader and legislator Simon Marandi has sparked a row after he organised a kissing competition at a fair in the tribal village of Talpahari IANS reported. Marandi who has been organising the annual fair in the village for over three decades said the competition was organised to promote love and modernity . Marandi organised the competition on Saturday night and it was reported in the local newspapers on Monday. While Marandi said the aim was to reduce divorces in the tribal community the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party criticised him for hosting the event. Tribals are basically innocent and illiterate Marandi said according to the Hindustan Times. Because of this the family system is weakening. To make them aware of our social structure and responsibility towards the family the idea of a kissing competition was conceived he said. Tribal people are hesitant. The hesitation of tribal couples will end by kissing openly in the competition he said. Marandi retained his Littipara Assembly seat in the April 2017 bye-election.The BJP however called the event a mockery of tribal culture and tradition . What is the JMM trying to prove by organising such a competition Ramesh Pushkar a senior BJP leader told IANS. Pushkar added: One JMM legislator has asked for opening a bar in the Assembly another is organising a kissing competition. Pushkar was referring to a suggestion by another JMM leader Kunal Sarangi who had proposed setting up a bar in the Assembly campus. Pakur: Kissing or public display of affection (PDA) is criticised look down and considered a taboo in Indian society. However possibly for the first time in the country a public event was organised in Jharkhand s Pakur district where the lip-lock was cherished as a sport to celebrate love between married couples. The kissing competition was organised in Pakur s Dumaria village around 321 kilometers from state capital Ranchi by Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) Littipara legislator Simon Marandi on Saturday night. The village where the competition was organised is also his native. The kissing competition was exclusively for married couples only. According to people who witnessed the competition first of its kind in the state said Around 20 married couples participated in the competition. The MLA talking to media said The competition has been organised to increase bond between couples and check growing divorce cases among the tribals. Also read: Rs 100 crore transferred to realty firm from Jharkhand s midday meal account The legislator firmly believes that such competitions will increase bond between couples. The kissing competition was for the first time introduced to the annual fair. The legislator has been organising it since last 37 years. The fair witnesses a series of cultural and sports events including archery and running competition. Also read| Ranchi: After fatwa Muslim woman Yoga teacher Rafia Naaz s house attacked However the kissing competition cherished by thousands of villagers did not go well with Jharkhand ruling party BJP. A senior BJP leader of Jharkhand said Marandi is making mockery of tribal culture. There are other ways to improve bond between the couples. The leader added JMM leaders are trying to pollute minds of innocent tribals with foreign culture and public display of love.