Jharkhand''s ex-CM set to boycott National Games opening

Jamshedpur, Feb 12 (PTI) Former Jharkhand Chief MinisterBabulal Marandi today said he would boycott the 34th NationalGames opening ceremony to protest the ruling government''s"whimsical distribution of passes among the capitalists andrelatives".

The Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik) chief''sdecision has come barely hours before the opening ceremony ofthe sports event, which is being conducted by the statefollowing umpteen postponements.

"I am really surprised when I came to know today that1500 passes each was given to Jharkhand Chief Minister ArjunMunda and his deputies Sudesh Mahato, President of AJSU Party,and Hemant Soren of JMM," the JVM leader said.

In fact, he said, the government have made a mockery ofthe Games as bonafide sportspersons were deprived of thepasses.

"If the state government was really serious aboutpromoting sports in Jharkhand, they should have given priorityto sportspersons and then the people, who have been displacedfrom their own land for development projects," he said.

Marandi demanded that the Chief Minister and his deputiesmust pay for the passes they procured, otherwise it would beconsidered as "misuse of government fund."

"The organisers should have allotted at least two passesfor MLA and MPs, so that they could bring there spouses towitness the opening ceremony," he said.

Asked whether he was invited for the opening ceremony,Marandi said, "I have received passes but will not take part."PTI BS PM