Deoghar protesters call off hunger strike

RANCHI: Nearly 200 displaced people of Punasi water reservoir project in Deoghar, sitting on fast-unto-death since five days, agreed to suspend their agitation temporarily on Saturday.
The agitators were pacified by Godda MLA Pradeep Yadav, who on direction of Speaker and in consultation with the government, went to Deoghar and offered juice to Punasi Displaced Struggle Front president Santosh Paswan.
The matter rocked the assembly from the first day of budget session as local MLA Suresh Paswan repeatedly raised the issue demanding interference of the government. On request of Opposition, Speaker C P Singh on Friday directed the government to ensure that the fast-unto-death is called off immediately and proper steps are taken to resolve the grievances.
On Singh's direction, deputy chief minister Hemant Soren told the House that the government was ready to take the initiative. "I spoke to Yadav and he has agreed to visit the protesters," he told the House.
Yadav, along with Deoghar deputy commissioner Mast Ram ,Meena and SP Subodh Prasad, met the protesters in Sadar hospital and convinced them to call off the agitation. An elaborate discussion in presence of Godda MP Nishikant Dubey, MLA Suresh Paswan and representatives of district administration was finalized for March 9.
"We agreed to call off our agitation temporarily because the government expressed its willingness to listen to our demands and act upon them," said Santosh Paswan, who was undergoing treatment at the hospital after his condition deteriorated on March 2.
Soon after Yadav's visit, co-operative minister Haji Hussain Ansari also met the protesters and backed their 21-point demand, saying that the government was ready to take all possible steps to ensure that the project-affected people get their due share.
Even as the five-day agitation was called off after talks, unrest was palpable among the 200 displaced people sitting on dharna. They expressed discontent over the decision to call off the protest without government conceding to any of their demands. "If the March 9 meeting proves unsuccessful, instead of fast we will go for self-immolation," said most of the protesters who were not happy with the government assurance.