Jamshedpur, May 12: The controversy over the installation of slain JMM MP Sunil Mahto’s bust at Ganesh Puja Maidan in Kadma today deepened further with BJP warning Tata Steel against parting with the lease land.

BJP legislator from Jamshedpur West Sarayu Roy said if the steel major agrees to part with the lease land, then BJP would capture the rest of the maidan for the construction of two temples.

“We would like to warn Tata Steel not to succumb to the pressure from the government. We would not allow the steel company to simply bow,” he said, adding that BJP would also stake its claim over other grounds, which fall under the lease agreement.

He said BJP would install statues of martyrs of the 1857 revolution on the Tatas’ grounds. The senior BJP leader also asked the logic behind the installation of Mahto’s bust. “Why is JMM so adamant on installing the bust at Kadma Ganesh Puja Maidan? Why is it not installing the bust on government land,” he asked.

Land reforms and revenue minister Dulal Bhuinyan has asked the district administration to take out 10,000sqft of land from the Tata lease at Ganesh Puja Maidan, Kadma.

Reacting on the removal of East Singhbhum deputy commissioner Nitin Madan Kulkarni and Dhalbhum sub-divisional officer Ranjan Chowdhary, Roy said it reflects the unlawful attitude of the state government. “The officers were carrying out their duties on the instructions of the high court. They were responsible for maintaining law and order at the disputed site. Their removal shows anarchy of JMM,” he added.

He stated that action against the officers by the state government would send a wrong message to the people. “BJP is against the action taken by the government. We will not tolerate such kind of governance,” he added.

Bhuinyan reacted sharply, saying that BJP is unnecessarily putting up roadblocks on the issue of installing Mahto’s bust.

“BJP is against the installation of a martyr’s bust. This will earn a bad name for the party, which is known for creating differences in the society. There is no politics behind installing the bust of Mahto. No body should have any objections to this,” he added.

On the removal of deputy commissioner, the minister said the chief minister took a correct step.