Manatu/Chatra: Noting that Naxal violence has taken a toll on the development of Jharkhand, BJP on Monday asked insurgents to shun violence and join the mainstream to take the state forward.
Addressing a series of public meetings ahead of Assembly polls in the state starting November 25, senior party leader and Home Minister Rajnath Singh appealed to the people to vote for the future of Jharkhand and give BJP a clear majority.
Speaking at violence-affected Chatra and Palamu districts, he told Naxalites, “you should shun violence and will have to join the mainstream. Today or tomorrow, time will come when you will have to shun violence. It cannot carry on like this. The area has to develop.”
Singh, flanked by state BJP president Ravindra Rai, hit out at the Congress, JMM and other parties for pushing Jharkhand behind by many years in terms of development. He charged previous non-BJP governments with rampant corruption and failure to take the state forward despite its abundant natural resources.
“Be it Congress, JMM or others, all indulged in corruption and could not help Jharkhand progress even though it is enriched with natural resources. You should question them for their corruption,” he said.
The Home Minister claimed of reports that Naxals might try to thwart the poll process but urged people to cast their votes without fear.
“There is no place for violence in a democracy. There is no power, no water, no development in these areas affected by violence. To ensure development, you have to shun violence. Change has to come by ballot not bullet. You should understand this,” he said.
Claiming that only BJP can turnaround the fortunes of the state, he said Jharkhand needs a strong leadership and a clear policy to take it forward on the path of speedy development.
While asking people to give his party a clear majority, Singh said the BJP-led Central government has kept a check on inflation and have full control on prices within a year.
He gave the example of Chhattisgarh to claim that BJP government in the state has ensured an all-round development.
