Thursday, March 10 2005 20:48 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Ranchi: JMM (Jharkhand Mukti Morcha) supremo Shibu Soren, facing a trial of strength tomorrow (March 11, 2005), tonight (March 10, 2005) accused the NDA (National Democratic Alliance) of 'forcibly confining five independent MLAs, but said that he was not taking any action as Chief Minister because he was a 'peace loving man' and did not want any disturbance when the Assembly session was on.

"The NDA has been trying to forcibly keep the five independents in its fold. It took them to Delhi and then to Rajasthan under escort. Even today after the oath-taking in the Assembly, they were escorted to a hotel and are not being allowed to move about freely," Soren told newsmen at his residence in Ranchi.

Asked why he had not taken any action as Chief Minister, he said, "I am a peace-loving man. I don't want any disturbance when the Assembly is in session."

In reply to a question, Soren expressed confidence that he would win the trial of strength in the Assembly tomorrow.

Referring to the absence of two Forward Bloc (FB) MLAs at the swearing in ceremony, Soren said that he had been informed by FB leaders that they would take the oath tomorrow.

To a question, he said that the NCP (Nationalist Congress Party) member Kamlesh Mukar Singh, who was also absent, had gone to Vindhyachal to perform pujas.

On the question of the nomination of an Anglo-Indian member, which was turned down by the Supreme Court, Soren said, "The NDA wants to suppress even fundamental rights. We nominated an Anglo-Indian to the Assembly because the community has a right to speak for themselves."

Describing himself as the son of an advasi and not accustomed to living in cities, Soren said, "I have always lived in the forests struggling against the mahajans and fighting for the rights of the poor. So, when I became Chief Minister, the NDA created a tehelka. They created a hungama even in the Parliament".