BIHAR-Containing the Jharkhand Movement

BIHAR Containing the Jharkhand Movement A S IT is well over 18 months since the agitation for a separate Jharkhand state began on a united front basis. In the beginning, at least half a dozen committees had made a confounding appearance; even leaders like Kartik Oraon, a former Congress MP, who had politically survived on the anti-separation plank, were found vociferously advocating Jharkhand nationalism. But such elements have retreated and there is now only one committee to stand in the field; the other, led by Janata ministers and legislators, is of little consequence. The united front which is tenaciously carrying on is the nine- party committee comprising the Horo- led Jharkhand Party, Marxist Coordination Committee, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, CPI-ML (SNS), Birsa Seva Dal, Jharkhand Muslim Morcha, Hul Jharkhand, Revolutionary Socialist Party of India and the Congress.