People's Democracy

CPI(M) Lambasts Misleading BJP Campaign

IT was only within a week’s time that the Jharkhand chief minister Arjun Munda raised before the Central government a demand of Rs 4,000 crore first, then of Rs 8,500 crore and finally of Rs 30,000 crore as a special economic package for the state. Later a ministerial delegation went to Delhi to bring this money from the centre for Jharkhand.

But, as the Jharkhand state committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) pointed out in its meeting held on  June 12-13, it is the same BJP led government of Jharkhand that deprived its rural poor of Rs 4,000 crore annually by not holding panchayat election in the state. This is also the government that had to return Rs 3,000 crore of central assistance in absence of utilisation of certificates. In fact, the BJP led government of Jharkhand did not utter a single word when the Vajpayee government was closing the coal, bauxite, iron ore, copper and other mines and other public sector units in Jharkhand, thus depriving the state of its share in the cess, royalties and other taxes. Altogether, the CPI(M) pointed out, the BJP-led government of Jharkhand has already deprived the people of the state of more than Rs 30,000 crore.

Neither the former chief minister Babulal Marandi nor the present chief minister Arjun Munda placed any resolution in the assembly to demand a revival package for the HEC from the then Vajpayee government, despite repeated notices by the BIFR to the government for giving the unit a revival package and even after the IDBI recommended for the HEC’s closure. Suddenly, now, the Arjun Munda government is asking for a revival package for the HEC. Similarly, neither Babulal Marandi nor Arjun Munda asked for any special package from the Vajpayee government at the time of bifurcation of Bihar, despite the assurances given by the then prime minister.

Nor did the BJP led government of Jharkhand ever submitted a memorandum to the finance commission for raising the state’s quota in central taxes to 33 per cent from 29 per cent as of now. It did not ask for reduction of interest rate on central loans either or for loan waivers as many other state governments had demanded.

The CPI(M) state committee meeting also pointed out that if the BJP led Jharkhand government is making the said demands now, it is because its term is about to end and a notification for Vidhan Sabha elections is going to be issued soon. Once such a notification is issued, it would freeze any possibility of a central package. In fact, it is in view of the doubts regarding the BJP’s chances of a comeback that the Arjun Munda government is raising the demand for a special economic package. It has nothing to do with the interest of the state or the welfare of the people, but is only an electoral ploy in view of the coming Vidhan Sabha election. But, the CPI(M) warned, like the “India Shining” and “Feel Good” campaign by the BJP and its allies before the Lok Sabha election, this campaign for a special economic package cannot make the people feel any good, as they have suffered the NDA misrule in the state for more than three and a half years.

The Jharkhand state committee of the CPI(M) has appealed to all political parties and people in the state not to be misled by the demand raised by the BJP and its allies for a special economic package for the state or any other demand to the central government. Nor must they become a party to this misleading campaign in any manner, directly or indirectly, the party has appealed. The CPI(M) has urged the people of the state to end the misrule of the BJP led government in Jharkhand in the coming Vidhan Sabha election as a priority task. All the secular forces must also see that secular votes are not divided for whatsoever consideration.