SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad Feb 8: MLAs and MPs in Dhanbad and Bokaro look like a divided house over the inclusion of Bhojpuri, Magahi and Angika as regional languages in two districts by the state government.
Both districts have 10 MLAs and two MPs. Among them, two MLAs are protesting the government’s decision whereas eight MLAs are in support of the inclusion of Bhojpuri, Magahi and Angika in the list of regional languages.
The MLAs who are supporting the anti-language agitation are JMM Tundi MLA in Dhanbad Mathura Prasad Mahto and AJSU Gomia MLA Lambodar Mahto in Bokaro.
On the other hand, BJP MLA of Bokaro Biranchi Narayan, Chandankyari MLA Amar Bouri, Congress Bermo MLA Anup Singh, BJP Dhanbad Sadar MLA Raj Sinha, Sindri MLA Indrajit Mahto, Nirsa MLA Aparna Sengupta, Baghmara MLA Dhulu Mahto, Congress Jharia MLA Purnima Neeraj Singh are directly or indirectly in support of the Hemant Soren government on the issue.
Interestingly, the MLAs and MPs of NDA and UPA have also cut the coalition line over the dispute. Dhanbad BJP MP Pashupati Nath Singh is in favor of the inclusion of languages but NDA partner AJSU Giridih MP (in which some part of Bokaro district also falls) Chandra Prakash Choudhary is opposing it.
Similarly in the UPA, Jharia MLA Purnima Singh is in support of Bhojpuri but JMM Tundi MLA in Dhanbad Mathura Prasad has raised a banner of revolt against his own government. Dumri MLA cum education minister Jagarnath Mahto, who is vocal on the issue is also against the government line.
The Congress also looks like a divided house. Its MLA in Dhanbad and Bokaro are in support of languages whereas former state committee president Pradeep Balmuchu, who has recently returned to the organization, had opposed the decision in Dhanbad three days ago.
The centre of language stir is shifting to Ranchi from Dhanbad, Bokaro as Gomia AJSU MLA Lambodar Mahto has announced Assembly gherao on March 6.
A delegation of AJSU would also meet all MLAs and MPs of Dhanbad, Bokaro from February 10 to 15 for their opinion on the language issue.
The dispute is taking a violent shape in both districts. Former BJP state president and ex- Koderma MP Ravindra Rai was attacked in Bokaro district on January 31.
JMM Dhanbad vice-president Nitai Rajwar was also allegedly assaulted by Bhojpuri, Magahi supporters in Jairampur under Tisra police station on February 4.
Meanwhile, Bhojpuri, Magahi Sanskriti Bachao Samiti has announced a candle march on February 13 in support of the government’s decision over inclusion in regional languages in Dhanbad and Bokaro districts.
