No Jharkhand VIP wants to burn Ravana's effigy

Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren's refusal to burn the effigy of Ravana, whom he termed as his "kulguru" and a great scholar, has put Ram Leela organisers at the state capital in a spot, as they now have trouble finding a VIP willing to ignite the demon king's effigy this Dussehra.

After Soren's refusal the Punjabi Hindu Biradari (PHB) approached Deputy Chief Minister Sudhir Mahto, but Mahto - who is from the same party as Soren - also turned down the invitation. Mahto said that he would be in Jamshedpur with his family members that day and hence unable to do the honours.

PHB has got three invitation cards printed, each with the name of a different chief guest, but is still not sure who will finally set fire to Ravana's effigy.

The first invitation card mentioned Shibu Soren as chief guest. Suhdhir Mahto was mentioned as chief guest on the second invitation card and now the third invitation card mentions the state's Human Resources Development (HRD) minister Bandhu Tirkey as the chief guest.

"We have invited many people including Deputy Chief Minister Sudhir Mahto, the HRD minister, the mayor of Ranchi, Prem Sagar, son of Ramanad Sagar who produced the Ramayan tele serial. The effigy will be burnt at the Morabadi ground on Vijay Dashami by whoever is present," Gulshan Lal Ajmani, president of PHB, told reporters on Wednesday.

It has been the tradition since the creation of the state, eight years ago, for the chief minister to set fire to the effigy of Ravana.