Friday, March 18 2005 11:51 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: A UPA (United Progressive Alliance) delegation from Jharkhand led by former Chief Minister Shibu Soren today (Mar 18, 2005) met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and demanded dismissal of the Arjun Munda Government and a CBI inquiry into the "large scale horse-trading coupled with misuse of State machinery" behind its installation.

The recent developments in Jharkhand have challenged the well-entrenched democratic norms of our country. A kind perusal of the recent sequence of happenings regarding the formation of NDA (National Democratic Alliance) Government in Jharkhand would reveal that blatant violation of the democratic norms, large-scale horse trading amounting to several crores of rupees coupled with misuse of State machinery was the order of the day," JMM (Jharkhand Mukti Morcha) leader Soren said in a memorandum to the Prime Minister.

"Talking to reporters after the half an hour meeting with Singh, Soren said he informed the Prime Minister that despite a "clear-cut majority", the UPA alliance was deprived of an opportunity to prove it because of "blatant illegal activities of the NDA team, both at the State as well as at the Centre."

Soren alleged that the NDA leaders deliberately misrepresented the facts before the nation so that the "illegal activities of horse trading" could go on unchecked.

"We therefore request you to look into our grievances for which a CBI inquiry would positively substantiate our claim," the former Union Minister said in the memorandum.

"In order to uphold the cherished and established democratic norms, it is imperative to dismiss the illegitimate Government in Jharkhand," he said.

Asked about the response of the Prime Minister, Soren claimed Singh said "truth will prevail".

On whether he would approach the Court to seek justice, the JMM chief said, "I will definitely do so."

About the possibility of his return to the Central Cabinet, Soren said he would consider this.