Queen’s Baton Relay faces protest in Jharkhand
By IANSFriday, August 6, 2010
RANCHI - The Queen’s Baton Relay for the Commonwealth Games which reached Jharkhand’s capital Friday was accorded a warm welcome amid protests by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers who termed it as a symbol of slavery.
The baton entered Jharkhand’s Dhanbad district Wednesday and it reached Ranchi via Bokaro Friday afternoon. It was welcomed by union Food and Processing Minister and MP Subodh Kant Sahay and former hockey player Sylvanus Dungdung who was part of the hockey team that won gold in the 1982 Commonwealth Games.
However, at Buti roundabout of Ranchi, more than 50 BJP workers protested the baton - terming it as a symbol of slavery.
“This is a symbol of slavery and this is the reason we are protesting the Queen’s Baton Relay,” said Arvind Singh, a BJP worker.
The baton was also welcomed by Governor M.O.H. Farook in Ranchi.
The baton travelled nearly 170,000 km through 70 Commonwealth countries before arriving in India for the Games Oct 3-14 in New Delhi.
