CM�s Nagrik Abhinandan in Jamshedpur today, 30,000 people expected to participate

Jamshedpur , March 31 : Chief minister Raghubar Das will be felicitated by scores of slum dwellers of his home town on April 1, in recognition of the state government’s decision to allow unauthorised occupants of public land to own it on lease for 30 years in lieu of paying government-approved tariff.

Basti Vikas Samiti (BVS), an outfit by the CM since 1996, has organised Nagrik Abhinandan for Das at Agrico ground on April 1. About 30,000 people living in the illegal colonies, who are likely to benefit from the initiativeare expected to attend the event.

BVS president Khemlal Chaudhary said that they are working to make the event historic. Apart from the 130 bastis in the limits of the Jamshedpur East assembly constituency the event will also be attended by people from several other bastis from Mango, Sonari, Kadma as well as other places surrounding the city.

� We are hopeful on his leadership. He will pave way for development that will reach all the districts of state,� said Narendra Singh, an Agrico-based transporter.

�Raghubarji with his political experience (five times MLA since 1995) has shown his calibre in various portfolios in the past (finance, urban development and deputy CM). He would ensure that there is sustainable development of both industries and agriculture and now the ownership status for urban slums being granted under his tenure,� said a party worker.

Incidentally, Raghubar Das had leading the agitation for ownership rights to 86 urban slums (outside Tata Steel command areas) in 1994-95 under the banner of BastiVikasSamity. The matter is sub-judice with the Jharkhand High Court.

Das led several protests during Jaya Prakash Narayan’s Sampoorna Kranti in Jamshedpur. He was arrested and jailed in Gaya where he met many senior leaders. He was also jailed during Emergency imposed by the then prime minister Indira Gandhi. He became Jharkhand BJP chief in 2004-05. Under his leadership, the BJP won 30 seats in Jharkhand Assembly in the 2005 election. He was again the BJP state president during the 2009 Lok Sabha elections. He became a Vice President in the BJP National Committee on August 16, 2014.