The Congress is working on the strategy of painting the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Central government as “anti-tribal” by attacking the Raghubar Das-led government in Jharkhand over the amendment of two Acts that “protect” tribal land. Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das’ BJP-led government recently amended the Santhal Pargana Tenancy Act (SPTA) and Chotanagpur Tenancy Act (CTA) that prohibit the sale of tribal land to non-tribals, through an ordinance. The state government’s idea is to “free” the land so that the tribal population can sell their land on market rates. However, the Jharkhand government’s move has triggered a massive protest by both Christian and non Christian tribals. Both the Acts were enacted during the British raj. Things have come to such a pass that not only the opposition such as the Congress, the Left, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), but even BJP’s alliance partner All Jharkhand Students’ Union (AJSU) are opposing the move. Even BJP’s tribal MLAs are opposing the ordinance, which is with the President at present.
According to sources, the Congress is planning to organise a massive demonstration on this issue at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on 24 November, for which party vice president Rahul Gandhi has held a meeting. Congress believes that since Parliament’s winter session is starting on 16 November, the issue will generate considerable heat even inside the House. Rahul Gandhi is likely to meet President Pranab Mukherjee on this issue.
“A senior Congress leader is working towards ensuring decent media coverage and providing logistical support to the demonstration against the so-called anti-tribal policies of the Central government. Interestingly, this leader told a Congress delegation from Jharkhand that some Dalit and Muslim faces should also be included in the dharna, so that the NDA government can be depicted as being anti-tribal, anti-Dalit and anti-Muslim,” said a source.
Speaking to this newspaper, senior Congress leader from Jharkhand, former Union minister Subodh Kant Sahai said: “The situation is very volatile. People are out on the streets. For the tribals, it is the ‘Ulgulan’ (revolution) moment. This is not just about land, but also about protecting tribal culture and heritage.” He said three police firings have taken place in Khunti, Ramgarh and Barkagaon in the last 55 days in which seven people have been killed and 50 injured.
The ongoing protest by the tribals got fuel from the government’s decision to show cause an Indian Administrative Service lady officer, Vandana Dadel, a tribal Christian, who questioned the CM’s statement on religious conversions on her Facebook post. On 20 October, Raghubar Das had said during an official programme that those involved in religious conversions were inciting the protest against the government’s move to amend the two Acts and would be sent to jail. The officer was present when CM made this statement and wrote on Facebook on the same day, “A question arises in the mind when questions are raised during an official programme about the religion of tribals, and on religious conversion. Does a tribal have no right to choose a religion of his/her choice with respect? Why all of a sudden have people started thinking about the religion of the tribals? The fact is that the society is suffering from many other serious issues like malnutrition, illiteracy and unemployment.” Dadel is presently Secretary, Panchayati Raj.
The opposition parties held a rally protesting against the amendments and called for a state-wide bandh on 24 October, which was quite successful. They are now planning to gherao the Raj Bhawan in Ranchi on 13 November.