Congress Takes Disciplinary Action Against Senior Leader Yogendra Saw
In a significant political development, the Congress party has expelled its senior member and former minister, Yogendra Saw, for a period of three years. The disciplinary action was announced on Friday following Saw's persistent criticism of Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren and the ruling coalition government comprising the JMM, Congress, and RJD.
Demolition of Bungalow Precedes Expulsion
The expulsion comes just one day after the Hazaribag administration demolished Saw's Joradag bungalow located in the NTPC command area. This demolition was carried out to facilitate the expansion of the public sector undertaking's Chatti Bariatu coal mining project in the Keredari block. Saw has vehemently accused the NTPC, the administration, and the state government of deceiving landowners and providing inadequate compensation for the acquired land.
Party Cites Undisciplined Conduct
Jharkhand Congress's media committee chairman, Satish Paul Munjini, clarified the party's stance, stating, "The party's disciplinary committee has taken strong objection to Yogendra Sawji's continuous objectionable and undisciplined remarks against the current coalition government and the chief minister through his social media handles. Recently, he also made inappropriate statements against the government through social media." The committee deemed his actions as violating party discipline and norms.
Saw's Allegations and Social Media Outburst
Yogendra Saw claimed that his house was demolished without receiving proper compensation. Taking to social media on Thursday, he posted a scathing message: "When the protectors themselves become predators, where should the common public go? Now change is necessary! The corrupt looters hiding behind uniforms have turned Jharkhand into a grazing ground. Police stations are no longer temples of justice; they have become extortion dens. From top to bottom, everyone is sold out." His daughter, former Barkagaon MLA Amba Prasad, supported his claims, calling the demolition unjust and accusing the administration and state government of wrongdoing.
NTPC's Compensation Claims
Contrary to Saw's allegations, NTPC officials asserted that he was repeatedly asked to accept compensation assessed by the buildings division for the structures on the land. They stated that despite multiple notices, Saw did not accept the compensation. Consequently, the company deposited Rs 1.97 crore with the state government in June of the previous year to cover the assessed amount.
Political Implications and Future Outlook
This expulsion highlights internal tensions within the Congress party in Jharkhand and could impact the stability of the coalition government. The incident raises questions about land acquisition policies and compensation mechanisms in development projects. As Saw faces a three-year expulsion, his future political moves and the response from his supporters will be closely watched in the coming months.
