Jamshedpur, Oct. 20: The venue for the meeting of Congress members in connection with the proposed statewide agitation called by Opposition parties of Jharkhand on 24th October on the issue of amendment in local land laws turned into a battle zone here on Thursday.
Two factions of Congress leaders, one supported by the Barhi MLA Manoj Yadav and the other supported by district Congress president of East Singhbhum Vijay Khan, clashed violently at Nirmal Bhavan, the meeting venue.
Following the clash involving use of lathis and slippers, Sourabh Khan, nephew of Vijay Khan, and his supporters were badly injured in the brawl. The supporters of the Barhi MLA allegedly went berserk after Yadav was branded as an agent of Bharatiya Janata Party by Sourabh and his supporters. Sourabh�s supporters raised slogans against Yadav and also showed placards to condemn him.
They also reportedly waved black flags at former Union Minister and senior Congress leader Subodh Kant Sahay and Congress deputy chief of the state Tarachand Bhagora. This aggravated the situation as Yadav�s supporters reportedly chased Sourabh and his supporters and assaulted them both in and outside Nirmal Bhavan.
Party sources said today�s meeting was convened by Opposition parties excepting Jharkhand Mukti Morcha to discuss strategy to protest against proposed amendments in the Chhota Nagpur Tenancy Act by the state government. A state-wide bandh is reportedly proposed to be called on 24th October on the said issue, sources said.
The Barhi MLA and his supporters had convened a meeting at Nirmal Bhavan. After the meeting, Vijay Khan left the venue. Local Congress members requested Subodh Kant Sahay and Tarachand Bhagora to attend the meeting.
Bhagora assured local party members that he would apprise party leader Sonia Gandhi of their sentiments on the land laws amendment issue. Yadav and his supporters demanded the removal of state Congress president Sukhdev Bhagat and state party in-charge BK Hari Prasad to ensure party�s victory in the elections.
They also passed comments on state Congress general secretary Ashok Choudhary. This led Sourabh and his supporters to show black flag to Yadav and accusing him to be a BJP agent, sources claimed.
Sourabh was somehow rescued by Rajnish Singh and Rana. His supporters were chased up to Jubilee Park Gate. Later Sourabh reached Tilak Pustakalaya, the district headquarters of Congress party, and informed party members about the ruckus.
Sources said the clashing faction members assaulted each other with canes, flag staff and slippers. No police complaint was made till late evening as Vijay Khan termed the incident as the �internal matter� of Congress party.
MLA whipped up the clash: Vijay Khan
Jamshedpur: District Congress president Vijay Khan alleged that the clash between Congress members had taken place at the behest of the Barhi MLA Manoj Yadav. He said Sourabh Khan had just gone to the meeting to make his opinion known to senior party leadres. He said that the MLA should have given a patient hear to Sourabh and his supporters.
Meanwhile, other party leaders including Ashok Choudhary, Ramashraya Prasad and Usha Singh termed the incident as unfortunate. They said they would hand over a report to party president to take appropriate action.
Congress posts sold to influential people: Manoj Yadav
Jamshedpur: Barhi MLA and Congress leader Manoj Yadav accused state Congress president Sukhdev Bhagat of being influenced and motivated in allotting party posts. He went on to allege that Bhagat had taken Rs 10 lakh from MLA Nirmala Devi.
Speaking to scribes at Nirmal Bhavan following the clash between rival factions, Yadav said that Bhagat and party general secretary Ashok Choudhary were greatly harming the party. He demanded removal of the two leaders from the party.
Former NSUI state president Manas Sinha commented that Bhagat and state party in-charge BK Hari Prasad were out to damage the party in the state. Former district Congress president Ravindra Jha and many other party leaders were also present on the occasion.
