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Tie-up with RJD will not prevent Jharkhand formation, says Scindia

AICC general secretary and former Union minister Madhavrao Scindia today clarified that his party's alliance with the Rashtriya Janata Dal in Bihar would in no way deter its commitment to create a separate Jharkhand state comprising 18 districts of south Bihar.

Talking to newspersons in Ranchi, Scindia said his party had included the statehood issue in its poll manifesto honouring the sentiments of this region. The Congress, if voted to power, would realise this age-old demand at the earliest and not wait till the state polls, as announced by its rival the BJP.

The BJP, he said, had betrayed the people of this region by not creating the state in the 12th Lok Sabha. The Congress even then had come out openly in support of the new state, he added.

To a query, Scindia said his party would not compromise on the issue of Jharkhand. ''Even the RJD cannot divert us,'' he said, adding, ''Our alliance with the former is to safeguard and strengthen social justice and secularism.''

Asked to give a specific time-frame for the creation of Jharkhand state if his party came to power, he said, ''At the earliest.''

Scindia criticised the BJP for its announcement to create the state before the assembly polls in Bihar, saying, ''Why not soon after assuming power.'' He said if his party came to power the state reorganisation bill would be taken up on priority. His party would extend all possible support to the state reorganisation bill for creation of Jharkhand, he added.

UNI

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