VISHVENDU JAIPURIAR
Hazaribag, Dec 7: The Khairwar Bhokta Samaj Vikas Sangh has decided to boycott the Jharkhand labour minister and MLA of Chatra Satyanand Bhokta from their community. The Sangh has decided not to keep any contact with the minister and his family which means no participation either in any ceremony or death among other activities.
A press release issued by the Sangh on Wednesday said they have called a meeting to discuss various issues including the minister marrying his son in another community.
“The minister is eyeing the Chatra seat which is reserved for Schedule Caste. So, he is marrying his younger son to an SC girl,” they added.
In the meeting presided over by Sangh’s district president Jagdish Bhokta and vice president Kamesheswar Bhokta, leaders of the community expressed anger over the act of the minister. They said he was doing this for political benefit vis-a-vis challenging the community by going away from its traditional system.
It was decided to not keep any relation with the minister and his family and that no one will join any of his functions. “Anyone violating the decision will also be boycotted from the community,” the release read. The speakers at the meeting also said that the minister has always used his position to tarnish the image of the community.
President Jagdish Bhokta confirmed this decision and said what the minister is doing is not acceptable to them. “For marriage, we follow our tradition but now the minister is breaking this system which will encourage others also to do so,” he added. He said such marriages will damage the old tradition of Bhoktas and so a boycott is necessary.
However, Satyanand Bhokta presented a tough face on this issue. “Bhokta means Satyanand Bhokta and I am the prominent face of this community. I am also the central president of the community. The fact is that Saroj Bhokta is the district president of the community in Chatra. Those taking the boycott decision against me are boycotted by the community earlier only for their wrong deeds,” he said.
Notably, the minister is marrying his third son Mukesh Bhokta with the daughter of one Prakashthe Baitha of Giridih.
A Ganjhu leader on condition of anonymity said Ganjhus (read Bhoktas) got the tribal status recently and in this case, the minister will not able to contest from his present Chatra seat as it is reserved for SCs. “So now he is playing big by marrying his son with SC girl while eyeing the Chatra seat which is his stronghold,” he said.
The wedding is to take place in Kari village today. Chief Minister Hemant Soren and other ministers and leaders and officers will also join the ceremony.
