JMM calls for shutdown in Jharkhand areas on April 24

Ranchi, April 21 (IANS) The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) has called for a shutdown on April 24 when Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address panchayat representatives live from Jamshedpur in the state.

The shutdown will be enforced in Kolhan in East Singhbhum district and Chaubasa spread over West Singhbhum and Seraikela-Kharswa districts.

"We have called for a shutdown on April 24 when Modi will address the panchayat representatives to protest against the state government's domicile policy, which is a joke with the right of moolvasis (original inhabitants)," JMM general secretary Supriyo Bhattacharya told IANS.

He said the main opposition party in Jharkhand was also not happy over the Panchayats Extension to Scheduled Areas (PESA) Act case pending in the Supreme court.

The JMM leader claimed that Modi's proposed address was an attempt at influencing court proceedings.

Third, he said, the prime minister was scheduled to address the panchayat representatives from the JRD Tata stadium which belongs to a corporate house.

"What message is the prime minister trying to give to the nation and the world? Is he trying to appease the corporate world?"

Meanwhile, security has been beefed up in Jamshedpur in view of the proposed JMM shutdown.