Mandal rues leaders’ sloth

Mandal was critical of the Bharatiya Janata Party leaders, both for launching a character assassination movement against Jharkhand leaders and also for delaying creation of a new state. He recalled that the BJP leaders had promised to create a new state of "Vananchal" within threemonths of coming to power. The same was included in the National Agenda, which guides the Vajpayee-led government. The three-month limit is already over but there is no sign of creation of a new state, he said. If the BJP is really committed to create a new state, then Vajpayee government should move a bill in this regard in the current session of the Parliament, he demanded.

When asked whether Jharkhand movement leaders would press for inclusion of tribal districts of West Bengal and Orissa in the proposed state, he said the issue could be taken up at a later stage. To facilitate the creation of a new state, Jharkhand leaders are also prepared to forget differences over nomenclature the proposed state and accept the BJP’s views, he said.

In reply to questions about economic viability, Mandal said the 18 districts of the proposed new state accounts for nearly 80 per cent of Bihar’s revenue. The new state could easily have an annual budget of the size of Rs 5,000 crore even without the support of thePlanning Commission.

Mandal, who is also the vice-chairman of the Jharkhand Autonomous Council, said nothing short of a separate state would satisfy the Jharkhand people. The autonomous council has its own limitation.