Dhanbad: Protest against the inclusion of Magahi, Bhojpuri and Angika in the regional language list for Dhanbad and Bokaro districts continued on Tuesday with more than 200 youth taking out a two-km long footmarch in Topchanchi block demanding revocation of government decision.

The protesters, who took out the march from Khurdih village of Rajaganj area at around 11 am under the banner of Jharkhandi Bhasa Bachao Sangharsh Samiti bearing banners, posters, placards and pamphlets protesting against the government decision also chanted anti-government slogans and reached Kotaldih Bramhandiha chowk where a meeting was held. The protestors shouted slogans like, Bhasa atikraman nay chalto; Bhojpuri Magahi hatay heto; Dhanbad Bokaro me Bhojpuri, Magahi nay chalto; CM Hemant Soren Murdabad and others.

The miffed youth led by Gokul Mukherjee (34) a local school teacher and runs an organisation Topchanhi Helping Hands, decided in the meeting to participate in large numbers in a 50-km march that will be held on January 30 from Telmachcho in Bokaro to Jharkhand Bengal border in Bokaro. Talking to The Telegraph Online on Tuesday, Mukherji said, “Our series of protests will continue till the government revokes its decision."

“The government decision to include Bhojpuri, Magahi and Angika in regional language list is quite erroneous as well as lopsided as it will favour the ‘outsiders’ trying to snatch the jobs from local residents. Even the JPSC syllabus for these languages is quite precise while the syllabus for local languages like Khortha is extensive and thus it will favour outsiders,” explained Mukherjee.

He added, "We are aghast over the U-turn made by such parties like JMM, which has received mandate from the people on the plank of protecting and promoting local residents, local language and forests and others.Bhojpuri and Magahi have made inroads into rural pockets of the state as even in marriages in remote villages of Jharkhand, Bhohpuri songs are operated in DJs and others and the government decision will pose greater challenges to local languages compelling the generation next to read these language instead of the local language,” said, Jai Ram Mahto another local language activist.

Praduman Choubey

Traders launch agitation against power crisis

Members of Dhanbad Zila Chambers of Commerce hand over a memorandum to JBVNL GM in Dhanbad on Tuesday Shabbir Hussain

Dhanbad: The ongoing acute power crisis in seven districts of Jharkhand including Dhanbad, Bokaro, Giridih, Chatra, Ramgarh, Hazaribagh and Koderma has greatly trade and business activity since the last two months. Aggrieved over the pathetic state of affairs, traders of these seven districts have joined hands to launch a protest.

A delegation of Ramgarh Chamber of Commerce and Industry led by its president, Pankaj Tiwari on Tuesday visited Dhanbad and met the office bearers of Bank More Chamber of Commerce, a unit of Federation of Dhanbad ZIla chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The delegation also met the office bearers of Koderma, Bokaro and Giridih Chambers of Commerce. “We can't remain silent spectators to the pitiable state of affairs in the districts where normal life has been hampered,” said Tiwari who was accompanied by secretary of Ramgarh Chamber of Commerce, Bhupendra Singh.

In a related development, a delegation of traders under the banner of Federation of Dhanbad Zila Chamber of Commerce and Industry led by its president, Chetan Goenka also met the General Manager of Dhanbad Circle of Jharkhand Bijli Vitran Nigam Limited (JBVNL) demanding immediate steps to resolve the power crisis. Notably, DVC launched around 6 hours of load shedding on December 6 last year to realise its pending dues worth Rs 2100 crore on account of supply to JBVNL. Load shedding was gradually increased to 10 hours and later to 12-18 hours.

Praduman Choubey