Conspiracy to impose Prez rule in Jhar: Speaker

Jharkhand speaker Inder Singh Namdhari, on Sunday, spoke of a conspiracy for imposition of President's rule in the state. Namdhari has, previously, has issued disqualification notices to two of the four former ministers who had withdrawn support to the Arjun Munda government, thereby reducing it to a minority

Citing the instances of United Progressive Alliance and Left's agitational programmes following issuance of the notices after disqualification petitions, Namdhari told newsmen "These are grounds being laid for President's rule in Jharkhand."

"Has any one seen a gherao programme at the Speaker's residence anywhere in the world? Has any one seen the effigy of the Speaker being burnt ? These have happened in Jharkhand and show that there is ground work for the future. I see a conspiracy for imposition of President's rule," he said.

Accusing the Congress for being behind the events, he said none of the senior Congress leaders, including Sonia Gandhi, has come out openly in support of the rebels so that the party could have an escape route, 'should the UPA show flop'.

Claiming that he had done nothing wrong by issuing notices to the former ministers Enos Ekka, Kamlesh Singh and Stepen Marandi, Namdhari wondered why there was 'a hue and cry over it'.

Replies to the notices will be heard by him on Monday.

"When the Speaker gets petitions, can he not seek replies? I have just sought replies and not delivered any judgement. They (the three MLAs) can either come on their own, send their advocates or even just send their replies," Namdhari said in reply to questions on the timing of the notices.

Namdhari had cut short his trip to Nigeria on September 5, the day three ministers tendered their resignations, returned to Jharkhand and was met with the chief minister for half an hour. He was elected on a JD(U) ticket.

Namdhari said petitions against Kamlesh Singh and Enos Ekka had been pending at the Speaker's office since last year. The two former ministers face charges for flouting party whips.

Notice had also been sent to Stephen Marandi, an independent MLA for joining a political party - Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Democratic).

Marandi is its general secretary and it had burnt Namdhari's effigies in Ranchi and at Jamshedpur during the past three days.

The three MLAs had approached Supreme Court against the Speaker's notice.

Meanwhile, security has been tightened on the stretches leading to the Raj Bhavan, the chief minister's and the Speaker's residences. Rapid Action Force personnel were deployed and barricades have been erected at strategic points.