Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren today said JMM president Shibu Soren has already approached Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for grant of special status to the state and the JMM-led government would pursue to realise its 'rightful' demand.
"Guruji (Shibu Soren) has met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and placed the demand for according the state the special status, which is Jharkhand's right," Soren said, adding the special package would put Jharkhand on the fast track of progress.
The chief minister said he had spoken to Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh to make efforts in this regard while the state government would also continue to pursue the matter with the Centre.
Ramesh is the Chairman of the Implementation Committee of the ruling JMM/Congress/RJD coalition in Jharkhand.
With almost all political parties demanding for special status for the state to enable an economic package, the Congress, however, has a different view on it.
JPCC president Sukdhdeo Bhagat yesterday said at a party convention at Hazaribagh that the previous governments had allegedly surrendered Rs 18,000 crore Central funds since the creation of Jharkhand on November 15, 2000.
He was reacting to Ajsu party's ongoing series of agitations demanding special economic package for the state.
Babulal Marandi's Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantric) and the BJP have also demanded for the special package for Jharkhand.
