JMM snubs BJP, Ajsu-P after passing bill, amendment

Ranchi: An upbeat Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) on Friday evening wrote off BJP and its ally Ajsu-P from the state’s political arena, claiming that no voters would support them after the Hemant Soren government passed two separate bills, which it said were a long-standing demand of the people of Jharkhand. BJP and Ajsu-P, on the other hand, termed the two bills as an effort by the government to mislead the people.
During the one-day special session of the assembly on Friday, the government passed a bill to define the locals based on the land records of 1932 and another which raises the reservation of OBC in government jobs to 27%.
Speaking to reporters, JMM spokesperson Supriyo Bhattacharya said, “Our friends in BJP and Ajsu-P, you have been forever ousted from the political arena of Jharkhand. There is still time. I urge our friends in both the parties, who love Jharkhand’s soil and its people, to join us and rally behind chief minister Hemant Soren.”
He further said, “It was on November 11 two years ago that this government passed a resolution demanding a separate religious status for Sarna. On that very day this year, two separate bills were passed to define locals based on the 1932 Khatiyan and raise the OBC quota to 27%. Now, our tribal brothers and sisters in Jharkhand and across the country will observe this day as Dharm, Samman, Pehchan Aur Adhikar Diwas.”
Reacting to JMM’s claims, BJP state president Deepak Prakash, in a statement, said, “The Constitution has given complete authority to the state to define locals, bring job reservation policies and implement them. Why is it then giving the excuse of incorporating them in the 9th Schedule of the Constitution?”
He further said, “If the government is so concerned about the OBC communities, then why were the panchayat elections held without OBC reservations? The ULB polls are also to be held in the same manner soon.”.
In its reaction, the Ajsu-P tweeted that the passage of the bills was just a political ploy of the JMM-led coalition government and will not have a bearing on the people. “The JMM-Congress combine indulges in politics by leaving issues alive,” the tweet reads.
However, Jharkhand Congress president Rajesh Thakur defended the two bills and said, “The people of Jharkhand waited for 22 years for the definition of locals based on the 1932 Khatiyan. This is a proud moment for us as we delivered on their aspirations. It is also a momentous day for Congress as our fight to obtain 27% reservation for the OBCs was finally won today.”