Mandal serves ultimatum on Jharkhand

NAGPUR, Sept 16: Suraj Mandal, Deputy Chairman of Jharkhand Area Autonomous Council, today hinted at a possible economic blockade if the Centre did not go ahead with the formation of Jharkhand state within 15 days.

Speaking to reporters here, Mandal castigated Laloo Prasad Yadav for suddenly changing his stand on the statehood issue and alleged that the Rashtriya Janata Dal Chief, who was making “unprincipled, opportunistic alliances” would be totally isolated if he continued to do so.

Mandal said his party has withdrawn support to the Rabri Devi government and would urge the state Governor, Sundar Singh Bhandari to cancel the special session of Bihar assembly to consider the Bill for formation of the new state, which the Centre prefers to call “Vananchal” or make the chief minister prove her majority in the legislature.