Mamata Banerjee 'hurt' by Jharkhand CM Soren's West Bengal rally; threatens tit-for-tat

Jharkhand Chief Minister and JMM working president Hemant Soren on Thursday held a rally Jhargram in poll-bound West Bengal, demanding establishment of an autonomous council for tribal-dominated Western part of state. 

PTI sources in Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) said that party is keen to fight in a number of seats in West Bengal assembly elections due in April-May this year and Thursday's well-attended public meeting is its show of strength in Jangal Mahal region.

'JMM will fight for interests of ivasi people' 

Raking up an old demand of tribal people of area for setting up an autonomous council for Western part of state, Soren said, " JMM will fight for interests of ivasi people of West Bengal." Soren also attacked BJP-led government at Centre claiming that it has done nothing tribal population.

saffron party h bagged Jhargram seat in 2019 Lok Sabha polls. "A Paschimanchal Autonomous Council should be formed under Fifth Schedule of Constitution We are sure that people here will actively fight to get what is due to m," he told meeting held at Jamda area of Jhargram.

Fifth Schedule of Constitution deals with ministration and control of Scheduled Areas as well as of Scheduled Tribes residing in any state or than certain states in North-Eastern region.

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Following demand for an autonomous council, Left Front government h set up Paschimanchal Unnayan Parsh in 2000 for development of 74 blocks in five districts in western part of state. A Department of Paschimanchal Unnayan Affairs was also created in July 2006. JMM has some influence in at least three constituencies in Jangal Mahal but it h never won any seat in state.

'I felt hurt': Mamata Banerjee

Meanwhile, Soren's visit has "hurt" West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and she has vised him to take care of his own state. Reacting to Soren's demand, Mamata Banerjee said, "I felt hurt. I h gone to Hemant Soren's swearing-in as Chief Minister (in 2019) and h supported him a lot."

Banerjee said that if JMM working president can come to West Bengal and seek votes of tribal people, she can also go to Jharkhand where a large number of Bengalis live and ask for ir votes. "We do everything for people living in state," she said.

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(With PTI inputs)