JMM minister jeered at jan panchayat

DALTONGANJ: A former rebel-turned politician was jeered and heckled at a jan panchayat, organized on Tuesday at Rajhara colliery here. He was accused of being "a broker" for private coal operators here. An irate mob, most of them colliery workers, did not allow JMM MP from Palamu Kameshwar Baitha to speak and asked him to leave the spot, sources said. This is the "first instance of mass resistance at Rajhara", Baitha's constituency, the MP admitted."There was great resistance at the (jan) panchayat. The organizers said I was uninvited there. I was abused of being a 'dalal' (broker). People there just did not like my staying there," said Baitha.Ironically, Baitha faced maximum resistance from Yugal Pal, another former Maoist and once Baitha's acquaintance.According to Pal, the MP was not fit to be part of the meeting as he "has sold his conscience to a private coal operator company here". The former top Maoist also said Baitha has a "tacit understanding with the private coal operator company and thus is causing damage to people's stir"."Sab galat baat hai. Hum vikas ki baat karte hain (these allegations are false, I only mean devlopment)," said Baitha, adding that to be part of the meeting was his duty as a people's representative.The jan panchayat was convened by Rajhara Colliery Bachao Sangharsh Samiti to save the oldest colliery in the state, located 19km from Daltonganj, and also to protest against private coal operators who are creating environmental hazards here. Ajsu's state executive committee member Satish Kumar said the stir was by miners and other casual labourers of Rajhara under CCL that faces internal collapse due to bad management.