People's Democracy

JHARKHAND AGITATION

Foil BJP Game To Divide People: CPI(M) Appeals

THE Communist Party of India (Marxist)’s Jharkhand state committee has condemned the July 24, large-scale violence during the Jharkhand bandh, particularly in the state capital Ranchi. Five persons were killed in this violence and several others injured. The government abdicated its responsibility and its administration collapsed during the bandh.

The CPI(M) said the NDA partners in the state government have deliberately raked up the issue of re-notification of a 1982 circular of the labour department of Bihar government. Their purpose is to create social tensions among the state’s inhabitants. The Jharkhand government had re-notified the circular in September last year.

The Babulal Marandi government led by the BJP has taken up the domicile issue for divisive purposes. After Gujarat, a different kind of divisive model is being created in order to prepare for the state assembly election. The BJP’s game plan must be exposed, the CPI(M) said. The CPI(M) state secretariat has appealed to all toiling sections in the state to maintain their unity and amity and thereby frustrate the BJP’s game plan.

The CPI(M) pointed out that lakhs of tribals, Dalits and others have been deprived of their lands and livelihood since the British days and their names did not figure in the records of rights because of the manipulations by land usurpers in the 1932 and other survey settlements. The CPI(M) asked the chief minister Babulal Marandi to immediately call an all-party meet to find out a solution to the problems it has itself created on the domicile issue.

It will be noted that there is huge response from the tribals, toiling and deprived sections in Jharkhand for the agitation on domicile issue. The CPI(M) views this agitation as a reflection of the anger generated against the continued exploitation of people and against the ongoing loot of government and public sector resources by the mafias, contractors and other propertied classes even after the formation of Jharkhand. This mafia-contractor-propertied class combine enjoys the patronage and protection of the present NDA-BJP dispensation in Jharkhand.

The state CPI(M) said it would oppose any move that dilutes the limited rights the Jharkhand tribals have under the fifth schedule of the constitution. It would also oppose any attempt to dilute the limited land rights available to the tribals under the Scheduled Areas Regulation, GNT and SPT acts. In Jharkhand, tribals do not require any domicile certificate as they do have their rights in Jharkhand --- historically, constitutionally and legally --- including priority in jobs, developmental activities and relief works.

The CPI(M) has demanded constitution of a special tribunal for restoration of tribal lands within six months. In addition, it has demanded that the ineffective Tribal Advisory Council under the fifth schedule be replaced by an elected tribal autonomous council with sufficient legislative, financial and administrative powers.

To end the mafia-contractor raj in the state, particularly in developmental activities in rural areas, panchayat elections must be held immediately so as to empower the people to determine the course of their future development, with democratic participation of the rural poor.

The CPI(M) has demanded effective implementation of land reforms for distribution of land to the landless, from the surplus lands that are in the illegal possession of the landlords and land mafias. At the same time, the party has demanded jobs, rehabilitation and compensation for the poor who may get ousted from the lands they are cultivating.

The CPI(M) is of the view that the constitution and the law of the land must prevail and the BJP and other NDA partners must not be allowed to play with people --- by making false promises of giving them jobs, for example.

At the same time, the CPI(M) pointed out, the Vajpayee government’s drive to demolish, dismantle and privatise the public sector units has created a serious situation in Jharkhand. The state has suffered serious losses in terms of jobs, job opportunities and economic viability. The downsizing of governance has also seriously affected job opportunities in the central and state governments. With privatisation of public sector units and government departments, the constitutional and legal right of the tribals, Dalits and OBCs in form of job reservation has also ended. While opposing privatisation of public sector units and government departments, therefore, the CPI(M) has demanded the continuation of these reservations where privatisation has already taken place.

The CPI(M) warned that, instead of addressing these basic issues, the Babulal Marandi government is playing with fire by trying to divide the people for electoral purposes. It has appealed to all sections of the people to remain vigilant against the BJP’s game plan and frustrate its move to divide the toiling masses in order to continue the mafia-contractor raj unhampered.