Category: Ranchi

Robotics corner to pep up science centre in Ranchi

Souurce: telegraphindia.com

Ranchi Science Centre will soon boast of simulators, a robotics corner and open labs with the Union culture ministry having agreed in principle to help with major upgrades.

“We had a meeting with officials of National Council of Science Museums (NCSM), which is under the Union culture ministry. They have agreed in principle to upgrade and modernise the centre,” said its director GSP Gupta.

The meeting comes in the wake of the state higher and technical education department writing to NCSM in Calcutta about upgrading Ranchi Science City at Chiroundi in the Morabadi area of the state capital.

The department will now have to submit a concept letter with modernisation plans to NCSM along with Rs 10 lakh. Thereafter, NCSM will start preparing a detailed project report (DPR).

Spread over 13 acres within the science city, Ranchi Science Centre was built at a cost of Rs 12.2 crore. It already has three permanent thematic galleries, a science park with several interactive exhibits on simple machines, sound, optics, pendulum and static models of prehistoric animals, a 3-D projector, auditorium, conference room and a science library.

It also houses a planetarium which is scheduled to be inaugurated later this month.

Science centre director Gupta explained that as per norms, a state science centre was eligible for upgrades if it has completed close to 10 years. “We are eligible as the Ranchi centre has been operational since November 2010,” he said.

Ranchi Science Centre, designated category-I based on the city’s population, is eligible for upgrades to the tune of Rs 5 crore.

Gupta said they were in the process of sending a concept letter to NCSM along with the requisite fee of Rs 10 lakh. “After getting the concept letter, NCSM will prepare a DPR about the upgrades. The cost would be shared 50:50 by the state and Union governments,” he said.

The upgrades mean Ranchi Science Centre would be able to display digital panoramic thematic presentations based on scientific topics. It would also be able to host open labs on science and technology for residents and students to experience. It would have more exhibits, an outdoor amphitheatre, digitally recreated archaeological sites, simulators and interpretation centres with 3-D facility.

These additions, coupled with the planetarium that is coming up, is sure to make the centre a lively and interesting place for lovers of science to visit.

“The planetarium was completed last month by NCSM. It has a projector that uses latest hybrid technology for better viewing of planets in the solar system, galaxies, stars, nebulae and the Milky Way in the outer space. It will be inaugurated any day in August once state education minister Neera Yadav gives us time,” said a senior official of the centre.

Gupta claimed that work on the upgrades would start in a few months but refused to provide a timeline.

“We are determined to push things from our end. It won’t take much time for NCSM to prepare a DPR since it already has formats. We expect things to start soon,” he said.

7 lakh in Ranchi face dry taps

Source: telegraphindia.com

Over seven lakh people of the capital who get water from Getalsud (Rukka) Dam in Ormanjhi had to spend Wednesday with dry taps owing to pipe-interconnectivity and maintenance work taken up by the state drinking water and sanitation department.

Executive engineer of drinking water and sanitation (Rukka division) Prabhat Kumar Singh said they had to announce a shutdown of water supply from 10am on Wednesday to 10am on Thursday.

“The inconvenience is regretted but the shutdown is necessary for maintenance and operational work,” Singh said.

He added: “We have two supply units where pipe interconnecting work has been undertaken. The old unit supplies 30 million gallon per day and the newly commissioned unit 8 million gallon per day. Both the units are being interconnected keeping people’s needs in mind. The old unit requires maintenance on a large scale, which will take time. So, in order to maintain a balanced water supply, both the units are being interconnected.”

Located on river Subernarekha, Rukka dam has a total catchment area of 717sqkm.

A source however said that water supply would be resumed only late Thursday evening.

The two supply lines that originate from Rukka dam — Booty and Hatia — distribute water across areas of the capital such as Namkum, Kantatoli, Bahu Bazaar, Chutia, Samlong, Tatisilwai, Hotwar, Bariatu, RIMS, Morabadi, Dipatoli, Ratu road, a part of Kanke Road, Upper Bazaar, Main Road, Hindpiri, Pepee Compound, Lalpur, Doranda, Kusai and many others.

Though the department had informed people about the maintenance work through its field officers and staff, many people were caught unprepared.

Sanjay Kumar, a resident of Ratu Road, said some of his relatives from Bihar had come to Ranchi to stay with him for a week “The water problem was just too acute. Ultimately, I bought water from a local supplier,” he said. Chutia resident Manoj Kumar said he was worried as he had invited guests on Wednesday evening to celebrate his son’s birthday. “This (water-supply halt) had to happen today of all days,” he rued. “I don’t know how I will manage without water but I can’t postpone the party.”

An RMC official said they were doing their best to come of use to people. “We deputed our ward supervisors at our deep boring installations to help people get water. Our water tankers moved across the capital to supply water. We also received 20 requisitions for bulk supply of water today (Wednesday),” the official said.

Company cements ties with 5 villages of Angara block near Ranchi

Source: telegraphindia.com

Two anganwadi centres in Angara block of Ranchi district have received a bright makeover, and three more in the block will do so, thanks to the corporate social responsibility activity of a cement company.

ACC Cement under its CSR has taken the onus to revamp all five anganwadi centres — the mainstay of mother-and-child healthcare in rural areas — in Angara block.

Recently, chief minister Raghubar Das’s principal secretary Sunil Kumar Barnwal inaugurated two revamped centres in Soso and Nawagarh villages, appreciating the innovative work.

Under the ACC Cement project, the so far the two buildings have been completely renovated, painted and given a bright look with graphics on walls to help women and children get a feel-good experience. Walls are painted with alphabets, animals, birds and graphics on child nutrition, cleanliness and care tutorials. Bright colours have been used.

Jamshedpur based architecture firm Espacio is implementing the project.

ACC Cement CSR head (Chaibasa) Pranav Arya said their main idea was to do something for rural kids and their mothers.

“These are very important centres as they act as the first playschool for rural kids and the place where mothers get contraceptive counselling and supply, nutrition education and supplements. But they look very shabby. So we conceptualised the idea to upgrade them and give them a new look. We wanted to something for children and their mothers in rural areas, and upgrading anganwadi centres seemed to be a good idea. We have also built a Panchayat Bhavan hall in Nawagarh,” Arya said.

While the Soso and Nawagarh anganwadi centres have been revamped, those lined up for a similar makeover are the centres in Obar, Rangamati and Harabera.

Director of Espacio, Kalyan Kumar Patra, said they wanted to make the centres “happy places that mothers and kids love to visit”.

“Anganwadi centres are meant for mothers, toddlers and young children so we wanted to make the spaces warm, inviting and informative too. So after the mandatory painting, we went all creative, painting figures, alphabets, solar system and pictorial graphics on walls with bright colours,” Patra said.

A woman of Nawagarh, Surbari Sit, who is the mother of a four-year-old, said she felt happy at the new-look anganwadi. “It’s so cheerful. It feels good to see all these colours in front of you. Children love looking at colours and cry less,” she laughed.

Friendship Day: Ranchi college students install ‘happy fridge’ to feed poor

Source: hindustantimes.com

With an aim to not let any sleep with empty stomach, a group of college students in Ranchi on Sunday installed a ‘happy fridge’ at Swagatam Banquet Hall, Sahjanand Chowk in Harmu Road where leftover food will be kept for the needy people.

Extending helping hands towards to the poor on Friendship Day, the students, associated with an NGO called Feeding India, have decided to install such refrigerators at 10 strategic locations of the capital Ranchi so that no poor or needy person go hungry.

Priyanka Gautam, a college student, said initially they had started food drives to places like Jagannath Mandir and Ranchi railway station. Later, we decided to install refrigerators at places where poor could take out foods and satisfy their empty stomach, she said.

She said the initiative would also help eradicate the problem of hunger deaths and malnutrition due to unavailability of nutritious food.

The college students approaching restaurants, hotel and banquet hall owners and requesting them to donate their leftover foods. For proper distribution of food, the teams were also maintaining proper communication with different local NGOs and shelter homes.

Ranchi administration gets neighbourly for flood-hit Bihar

Source: telegraphindia.com

Ranchi’s district administration has teamed up with social outfits to help flood victims in neighbouring Bihar.

Around 10 social organisations have joined hands to collect relief materials and package them as family relief kits from Sunday. The first lot of relief packages will leave for Bihar on August 10, with Ranchi district administration arranging their transport, deputy commissioner Rai Mahimapat Ray said on Monday.

Ray said social outfits would bring relief materials to various collection points from where the district administration would arrange the transport of the items free of cost to Bihar.

“We did it last year for flood-hit Kerala. We welcome contributions from residents and organisations from other districts of Jharkhand as well. They can contact us or the social organisations,” said Ray.

Organisations involved in the initiative include Rotary Ranchi Central, Fallen Leaves, Gurdwara Guru Singh Sabha, Petroleum Dealers Association (South Chotanagpur), Jharkhand Civil Society, Mukti, Gurunanak Higher Secondary School, Jharkhand Sikh Youth Federation, Life Savers Ranchi and Jharkhand Thalassaemia Foundation.

Founder member of Jharkhand Thalassaemia Foundation and senior functionary of Life Savers Ranchi Atul Gera said collection points were conveniently located.

“The Gurdwara (on Main Road), Ladies Corner (on Main Road), Hotel Konark (on Station Road) and Jharkhand Thalassaemia Foundation (in Firayalal Compound, opposite Radisson Blu) are the collection points so far. One more may be added soon. People can either donate a few things or an entire kit depending on their budget ,” said Gera. “We welcome all contributions.”

People can donate rice, dal, cooking oil, coconut oil, sugar, salt, spices, tea and milk powder; sanitary items such as soap, detergent, toothpaste and toothbrush; medicines, clothes and slippers; bed sheets and blankets; mats, utensils, torches, candles and matchboxes and kerosene stoves.

Data released by Bihar disaster management department puts the number of flood-hit people at 88.4 lakh so far. These people are grappling with floods and their aftermath — homelessness, hunger and disease — across 1,301 panchayats of 111 blocks of 13 districts.

Herbal pills of ‘happiness’ brood in Ranchi

Source: dailypioneer.com

At a time when mental health has become the elephant in the room and the use of psychotropic drugs is becoming as common as antacids, Ayurvedic experts and clinical scientists in Ranchi claim that herbal medicines coupled with proper counseling can be an effective substitute for popping in an antidepressant every time you feel low or anxious.

Ranchi has been long known for its psychiatry institutes and the treatments they offer to patients suffering from common and severe mental illnesses. However, the use of herbal medicines to ease mental stress –a major contributor to most of the mental illnesses—is an area that remains unexplored so far. “The use of herbal medicines for treating mental illnesses has great potential. A class of plants called Medhya Rasayana has been clinically proven to improve memory and enhance cognitive functions,” said Dr. Suresh Kumar Agarwalla, an MBBS who has worked closely with patients in the psychiatry ward of Kolkata’s NRS Hospital.

Dr. Agarwalla, who runs his own practice in Ranchi, is against the use of antidepressants for common mental illnesses caused by daily stress. “First of all, counseling is must for any patient suffering from stress induced disorders. The commonly prescribed antidepressants only mask the symptoms, but do not address the root cause of it. Besides, these medicines also have side effects,” he said.

According to Agarwalla, in many cases, Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI), which are commonly called antidepressants, further increase symptoms of anxiety and depression in patients. In some cases, they make patients lethargic, passive or too sleepy, he said. “Many doctors these days are in a hurry to treat patients in a short span of time, so they resort to prescribing psychotropic drugs even to patients who may get treated with counseling and lifestyle changes,” he said.

Another Ayurvedic practitioner based out of Ranchi, Dr. Akhawri Shankar, said that extracts of Ashoka tree is effectively used in treating diseases such as insomnia and dementia. Shankar also runs his own company of Ayurvedic medicines by the brand name KDS4 and sells medicines for treating mental illnesses. “There are nearly 900 types of mental diseases and around 300 of them are curable. Common disorders such as anxiety disorder and even severe ailments such as autism can be treated using Ayurvedic medicines,” he said.

Shankar added that thorough research in the field of Ayurvedic treatment for mental disorders can give major breakthroughs and help people lead better lives without the side effects of psychotropic drugs. Several scholars and even the American Psychological Association, one of the leading umbrella bodies that deals with psychiatric disorders and its treatments, has criticized the over-prescription of psychotropic drugs across the globe lately. Clinical psychologists and counselors have also voiced their reservations towards unabated use of psychotropic drugs, a practice becoming common in the younger generation in India.

“If you are in stress over a loss of job or a divorce, how can any pill make you feel better? You have to undergo counseling and address the core issue,” said Dr. Agarwalla, adding that the approach of “take a pill for every problem” was plaguing the society and making people vulnerable and fragile when it comes to dealing with challenges in life.

Psychiatrists, however, say that severe cases of mental illnesses do require the use of drugs. Dr. D Ram, Director of Central Institute of Psychiatry in Ranchi refused to comment on the effectiveness of Ayurvedic medicines claiming that it was not his area of expertise.

He, however, said that psychotropic drugs prove to be life saver in many cases of severe mental illnesses and they should not be stigmatized.  “Psychiatry institutes have a multi-disciplinary approach towards patients. Common mental disorders are often treated with counseling and other forms of therapy, while the serious disorders may even require hospitalization and heavy dosage of drugs,” he said.

30 steel companies down shutters, Tata Motors on a closing spree

Source: hindustantimes.com

Industries in and around Jamshedpur– particularly in Adityapur Industrial Area (AIA) housing auto ancillaries – are facing tough time with series of block closures in Tata Motors from past month because of market slowdown. So much so that about 30 steel sector companies were on the verge of closing down while about a dozen downed their shutters from Thursday.

Hit with recession in the automobile sector, Tata Motors has gone for block closure for the fourth time since last month – this time from Thursday to Saturday, besides Sunday being a holiday. The company has also opted for separation of 12 days (asked to sit in house) for over 1000 Y-6 (temporary) workers. Permanent employees will rejoin duty on August 5 whereas Y-6 workers have been asked to rejoin on August 12.

Tata Motors had to take series of block closures due to sluggish market demands. There was production for only 15 days per month for the last two months. Union sources said the company has orders for only a week’s production in August. This has resulted in limited work in about 1000 auto-ancillaries dependent on Tata Motors in AIA.

On the other hand, the ‘exorbitant’ power tariff hike has hit the steel sectors with induction furnaces – where electricity is an essential raw material – resulting in the closure of about 30 companies. In fact, over a dozen such companies have started downing shutters from Thursday.

“Recession in auto sector is nothing new…It comes every two-three years. I met Tata Motors Plant Head today who said that the company might have to take another block closure of 3-4 days after which things would normalise. We expect things to be back on track after September. The company has got 40% less orders for its vehicles this July compared to corresponding month last year. Some of our companies are working in limited capacity while some have opted for maintenance work,” Inder Agrawal, president, Aditaypur Small Industries Association (ASIA), told HT today.

Agrawal confirmed that 25-30 steel sector companies have downed their shutters after state government exorbitantly hiked power tariff by 38% with effect from April this year. “The production cost has spiraled… They have no other option but to close down,” said Agrawal.

The JBVNL – supplier to most companies in Kolhan – tariff of Rs 5.50 per unit is the highest when compared to cheap rate of Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) and Jamshedpur Utility and Services Company (Jusco), the two other power suppliers.

DVC supplies power to steel sector industries in Giridih, Ramgarh, Patratu, Deogarh and Ranchi. As a result, the companies are producing ingots at much cheaper rate. However, Jamshedpur and Adityapur-based industries bear the brunt of high JBVNL tariff of Rs 5.50 per unit. “DVC charges Rs 2.95 per unit while Jusco rate is Rs 3.50 per unit of power consumed. The government should withdraw the tariff hike immediately and also strictly implement scrapping of 15-year-old vehicles to boost both the sectors,” added Agrawal.

Laghu Udyog Bharti (LUB) president Rupesh Katiyar said about 1000 companies in Jamshedpur, Adityapur and Dhalbhumgarh were affected with the recession and power tariff hike, rendering over 30, 000 direct and indirect workers jobless.

“We demand the government to waive off the fixed charge for power or cut down the tariff hike and request the banks to support the industries at this hour of crisis. If we fail to pay loan instalments for three months, our accounts will turn NPA. How will we pay loan when we don’t have money to pay salary to our workers?” asked Katiyar.

Mucky road test for Ranchi patients

Source: telegraphindia.com

The absence of a proper approach road to the 500-bed super-specialty wing of Ranchi Sadar Hospital is causing a lot of inconvenience to patients and their attendants.

The road that leads to the extended hospital wing, which was inaugurated with much fanfare by chief minister Raghubar Das two years back, has turned slushy after rain making the hospital inaccessible to visitors.

On an average, around 2,000 patients and doctors visits the hospital every day .

“People have been facing this problem for the last one month. You can neither walk nor negotiate the stretch on a two-wheeler without risking a fall. Patients and their attendants are the worst-hit. The state health department should at least put a layer of stone dust or morrum on the slush,” said Ravi Prakash, the relative of a patient.

One of two newly constructed buildings functions as a maternity wing where 100 pregnant women and children come for treatment daily.

“The problem recurs every monsoon. The road turns mucky and the hospital premises becomes dirty even after a mild drizzle. It’s incredible that two super-specialty units of the sadar hospital don’t have a proper road,” one of the hospital employees said on the condition of anonymity.

District civil surgeon Vijay Bihari Prasad said the department would make some stop-gap arrangement to resolve the issue.

“We are trying to get in touch with the officials of Jharkhand State Building Construction Corporation Limited (JSBCCL) so that they can direct the builder to fix the road by putting a layer of

stone dust or morrum. I don’t know whether the construction of the approach road and paver blocks are part of the project, but the problem can’t be left unattended,” Prasad said.

Prasad said the construction of the second building of the super-specialty wing would be completed by the end of December this year.

“We are also facing a problem regarding a designated parking space. We are going to ask the contractor to earmark a parking space,” he said.

The super-specialty wing, built at a cost of Rs 131 crore, has a curious past.

In 2011, JSBCCL undertook its construction and Bijeta Construction Company was awarded the contract.

In 2016, a PIL was filed in Jharkhand High Court over how the wing couldn’t be made functional even five years after the beginning of its construction. The health department had informed the high court that it would complete the construction of the first phase of the super-specialty wing by March 2017.

Ranchi man suffering from blood cancer gets a new lease of life

Source: avenuemail.in

Ranchi, July 31: Doctors at Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurugram successfully treated a 60-year-old patient Lal Mani Mahto of Ranchi who was suffering from Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia (CMML) which is a type of Blood Cancer with no definitive medicines available. The patient was presented to Fortis Gurugram with the complaints od fever, low hemoglobin, weight loss and low platelets. The patient underwent successful Bone Marrow Transplant performed by Dr. Rahul Bhargav, Director, Haematology and BMT, Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurugram and his team.

Lal Mani Mahto was presented to the hospital with the diagnosis of advanced Blood Cancer. He was given chemotherapy for the advance stage of cancer. Mahto started losing weight drastically. The reason for same was unknown, on consulting a doctor in Ranchi, it was revealed that he was losing blood but the reason for same could not be traced. The patient was given Folic Acid to control the level of blood, but the patient’s condition started deteriorating. He soon had to start the process of Blood Transfusion in every 20 days.  After taking consultation from several doctors in Ranchi, the patient was diagnosed with Blood Cancer. The only permanent solution for same was to get a Bone Marrow Transplant. The patient was presented before Dr. Rahul Bhargava who performed the surgery successfully.

Dr. Rahul Bhargava, Director, Haematology and Bone Marrow Transplant, Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurugram said, “Diagnosis of blood cancer is difficult, secondly, once the diagnosis is done there is no clear-cut medicine BMT is the only thing. Ion the process of BMT, RBC, WBC and platelets are Eradicated from the body. The patient is like a new born baby and is susceptible to infections. Stabilising the patient in such a condition is a challenge. Stem Cells from a different body are transferred to the patient’s body and acceptance of same is essentials for a successful transplant. However, when it comes to the donor, there is no risk involved at all. The donor just donates 300 ml of a blood stem cells and there is noting to be scared. The patient was very lucky as ideally the donors match is 30 %, but in this case the sister and Brother matched 100 %. The donor was discharged the very next day of donation. The patient has successfully been discharged from the hospital and is now leading a normal life”

Patient Mr. Arun Kumar said, “When I came to Fortis I had very little hope left in me.  I had to undergo blood transfusion in every 20 days. My family was seeing me getting weak day by day and I could not do anything about it. When Dr. Bharagava gave me hope that after the BMT I could resume my life like before, I thought it was miracle. My younger sisters stem cell matched and saved my life. While I was in ICU, I was very critical and my family was starting to lose faith. It is through persistent treatment I received from Dr. Rahul Bhargava  at Fortis Gurugram that I am healthy today and doing my normal day to day activities with ease.”

Dr.Ritu Garg, Zonal Director, FMRIsaid, “This was one of the most challenging case presented to the hospital as patient was brought with an advanced stage of Blood Cancer which is very rare. There were many complicationsand stabilising patient after the surgery was a big achievement. The patient’s situation could have been life threatening, however these were successfully avoided due to the diligence with which the case was handled. FMRI is equipped to handle such complications with the help of comprehensive team o handle all Blood Disorders and advanced technology. This case shows we are equipped to handle all the challenges from different specialities.”

Cops called for Congress clash in Ranchi

Source: telegraphindia.com

Congress factions resorted to an ugly clash in front of the party office on Thursday afternoon, forcing police to use force and detain a few leaders, indicating a growing belligerence among party men eager to ascribe blame for the poor showing in the Lok Sabha elections.

State party chief Ajoy Kumar, who arrived at the state party headquarters on Shradhanand road moments after the police managed to control the situation, addressed a gathering of loyalists and blamed a set of senior leaders for trying to “break the party”.

He did not mention names, but made it amply clear he was referring to former minister and Ranchi MP Subodh Kant Sahay, former state party chief Pradep K Balmuchu, former MPs Rameshwar Oraon and Furkan Ansari, all of whom have joined hands against him.

The Congress contested seven of 14 Lok Sabha seats in alliance with the JMM, JVM and RJD but could win only one.

By the end of the day, a senior Congress leader revealed that the party’s central leadership, already grappling with a leadership crisis, summoned all senior leaders of the state for a meeting in Delhi on August 3.

The leader also said that Jharkhand Congress minder R.P.N Singh called him from Delhi in the afternoon to find out what had happened.

The clash had its genesis in Wednesday night’s expulsion of former president of Ranchi district unit Surendra Kumar Singh and former state spokesperson Rakesh Sinha on disciplinary grounds for a period of six years.

Both leaders, considered to be Sahay loyalists, decided to hold a press conference at the party office at 2pm on Thursday. But around 50 supporters of the state party chief gathered at the party office early on with a plan to thwart the press conference.

At 1.45pm, both the expelled leaders, along with 250 of their supporters, arrived at the party office. They were jeered and pushed back by Kumar’s supporters, saying expelled leaders weren’t allowed to use the party office.

A clash ensued. Stones and missiles were hurled freely. Police, who seemed to have been informed earlier, were on standby with officer in-charge of Kotwali police station S.N. Mandal deploying as many as 22 personnel.

“Police used mild force to disperse the crowd. One photojournalist was hit by stone and injured. Surendra Kumar Singh and Sinha were kept under preventing arrest for around two hours after which they were released. No FIR has been lodged,” Mandal said.

Before they were taken into custody, Surendra Kumar Singh and Sinha addressed the media, calling Kumar “incompetent and arrogant” for wanting to run the party like a “dictator”.

“Kumar will be remembered as the worst (state) president of the party. The downfall of the Congress in Jharkhand and expulsion of committed party leaders and workers are some of his notable achievements. He has set a record of expelling over 100 leaders and workers during his tenure. We have lost committed workers like Ajay Rai and Sunil Singh, whom he has expelled,” said Sinha.

Three days earlier, Kumar had expelled Sudhir Singh, Yogendra Singh Beni, Ashutosh Nath Pathak, Manish Kumar Singh, Tinku Verma and Krishna Verma after they burnt his effigy and shouted slogans against him.

In May, Kumar expelled a dozen leaders and workers of the Hazaribagh district unit. Several others were expelled from Ramgarh, Giridih and other district units.

“Our expulsion is blatant violation of the party constitution. As per rules, a showcause notice has to be issued, and a reply has to be given within two weeks. An expulsion is subject to approval of the working committee. In our case, no procedure was followed,” Surendra Kumar Singh alleged.

In his address to party men, Kumar, who was accorded a welcome with garlands, thanked his supporters and went on fire a volley of accusations against senior leaders. Kumar said that like others, he too was sad over the performance of the party in the Lok Sabha elections.

“We won one seat and lost two others with a narrow margin. This is not a battle for posts and power. There are some people who want to take control over the ticket distribution exercise for Assembly elections. They want to grab the entire party. I have dedicated my life to serve the people of Jharkhand. As a police officer, I was wounded by the bullet fired by criminals. What kind of language they have been using? I too can collect 50 men at a time,” he said.

Kumar said there were leaders who wanted tickets for themselves and their children.

“Those who were defeated in the parliamentary election will not take responsibility of their defeat. For the coming Assembly elections, tickets will be given to new faces, the young and the energetic,” he said.

Congress Lohardaga MLA Sukhdeo Bhagat said the party had become a laughing stock in the state. “Jab nash manuj par chhata hai pahle vivek mar jata hai. (When the end is near, wisdom dies first),” he said.