Wish to turn Jharkhand central point of East: Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh

RANCHI: Touting the Hemant Soren-led government as the worst ever regime in Jharkhand, Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh today said Prime Minister Narendra Modi wished to turn the state as 'central point' of eastern India.

"Neither any previous government nor any government future would ever be like the one functioning in Jharkhand. It's the worst ever regime in the state," Singh told a press conference here.

He was here in connection with campaigning in support of BJP candidates for the first phase of elections scheduled on November 25.

"I have visited several states and ministers and officials come for talks with me about their problems and seek assistance. But no minister or official in Jharkhand has met me during my last two visits, because of the instability of the government," added Singh, referring to the JMM/Congress/RJD coalition.

He said the Prime Minister's desire was to make Jharkhand the central point of the eastern states to bring about their all round development.

Stating that Jharkhand's problem had been unstable governments, he said, "We also want to make Jharkhand an agriculture centre of the eastern part of the country."

The Centre, he added, was keen to enhance the meagre 12 per cent irrigated land through different schemes like water harvesting. poli u/f DMK Chief slams TN CM over inter-state water disputes



Chennai, Nov 16 (PTI) DMK President M Karunanidhi today slammed Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam for not taking any counter-steps on Mullaperiyar dam issue and the proposed check dam to be constructed across the Cauvery by Karnataka.

"Chief Minister Panneerselvam, similar to the steps taken by his predecessor ( AIADMK Chief Jayalalithaa), considers that writing letters to the Prime Minister would bring solution to the issues," Karunanidhi said in a statement here.

"He fears if an assembly session is called, there may be a danger for him in holding the post. He should evade such fears and take steps for the welfare of the state", he said.

Claiming that senior engineers in Tamil Nadu expect the government to file a caveat in the Supreme Court on the Mullaperiyar dam issue, Karunanidhi said not even a single cabinet meeting was held to take a decision on the matter.

Similarly, on the comments made by a Karnataka minister that his government has proposed to construct check dams across the Cauvery, Karunanidhi said he issued a statement that Tamil Nadu government should convene an assembly session and a resolution be passed against the decision by Karnataka.

"But the Tamil Nadu government was not ready to pay enough attention even to this issue either by calling for an all party meeting or by conducting an assembly session," he said.