Dhanbad: Arch rivals Dr Irfan Ansari, Congress MLA of Jamtara and his BJP counterpart from Bhawnathpur Bhanu Pratap Shahi engaged in a verbal duel again, but this time on Twitter over the repeal of farm laws.

Shahi even demanded capital punishment (hanging) of Ansari over his demand for capital punishment of PM Narendra Modi accusing him of being behind the death of over 800 farmers the protest.

Ansari in turn alleged Shahi is tainted and corrupt and also charged him with having looted money allocated for the common people during his stint as state Health and Family Welfare minister. He added that he shifted loyalty to BJP to evade action against his corrupt practice.

Notably, the controversy began with Ansari uploading a video on his official twitter handle hailing the victory of the agitating farmers after the withdrawal of the farm bills. Ansari also lauded Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra over the repeal of the farm laws.

Ansari speaking to The Telegraph Online, said, “I have not only accused the Prime Minister but also a question as to who should be held responsible for the death of over 850 farmers.”

On Shahi’s reaction, he said, “Shahi is accused of a health scam and he has no morality to talk about such issues. I will demand further probe into the scandal which even sent him to jail.”

Repeated efforts to reach out to Shahi yielded no results.

Praduman Choubey

Two top office bearers of state football association ousted

State minister cum Chairman of the Jharkhand Football Association, Mithilesh Kumar Thakur speaks during the Special General Meeting on Sunday Gautam Dey

Dhanbad: A special general meeting of the Jharkhand Football Association (JFA) was held today in Dhanbad under the aegis of Mithilesh Kumar Thakur, minister of Drinking Water and Sanitation Department cum Chairman of JFA. The meeting approved the removal of president Nazm Ansari and Joint Secretary, Dilawar Ansari. The meeting was attended by presidents and secretaries of 22 out of 24 district football associations and they unanimously supported the expulsion of the two and elected Vidroh Kumar Mitra, senior vice president of the JFA as the new working president of association.

Notably, Nazm Ansari and Dilawar Ansari were removed of the JFA after an emergency meeting under the chairmanship of its general secretary Gulam Rabbani on November 13 following a controversy over the Poraiyahat Sport Association.

Thakur took a jibe over the removed office bearers and said that some people were working for personal benefit in the name of sports.

He added that people with vested interests were trying to establish a parallel association by weakening the existing body.

He exhorted the office bearers to work for the promotion of football and assured that the state government under the leadership of CM Hemant Soren is working tirelessly for the promotion of sports in the state.

Talking to media at the sidelines of the meeting, Thakur said, ”I will try to facilitate the handing over of the management of the newly renovated sports stadium of Dhanbad at Nawadih in Dhanbad to the Dhanbad Football Association for enabling regular practice of players and organising matches.

Praduman Choubey